Ask the Scholar
Page 13 of 52
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
SECRE
9
tions have received little more than an apa-
opposition to his regime by promoting the
thetic response from the Portuguese public.
growth of "tame" political organizations. To
From time to time, however, Salazar permits
date, Salazar's efforts in this direction have
the temporary appearance of an unlicensed
been unsuccessful.
opposition, partly to present a window-dress-
In the spring of 1948, the Accao Popular, a
ing of "democracy," partly to identify political
"monarchist" movement drawn from ele-
elements which are hostile to his regime.
ments of the National Union, was formed with
In the presidential elections of 1949, for ex-
the sanction of the government. The new
ample, Salazar permitted the independent
movement manifested little vitality, however,
candidacy of 81-year-old Norton de Mattos, a
and ultimately disappeared. More recently
retired general and diplomat, in opposition to
there has been a somewhat similar activity to
President Carmona, the government candi-
create a "centrist" movement with compo-
date. Although General de Mattos declared
nents drawn from the National Union.
himself to be an "English type liberal," he
Actual political opposition to the govern-
willingly accepted the support of all dissident
ment has appeared mostly in fragmentary
political elements, including the Communists.
and informal movements which at present
The campaign activities of de Mattos were
have little significance. Even the Communist
closely restricted by the government, which
Party, which possesses the highest degree of
denounced him for the Communist support
organization among such groups, is compara-
he accepted and for his anti-clericalism. The
tively small.
combination of initial weakness of the oppo-
sition, its acceptance of Communist adherents,
b. Opposition Groups.
and the force of government propaganda in-
The Democratic Unity Movement.
creased popular support for the regime beyond
In October 1945 the government, perhaps
the government's own expectations. Disin-
in an experimental effort to determine the
tegration of the opposition set in even before
volume of anti-government sentiment, tem-
the election.
porarily relaxed its ban on political activity
Even in the presidential campaign of 1949,
and permitted the organization of an opposi-
however, the government did not permit the
tion group, which assumed the title of "Dem-
participation of any authorized political move-
ocratic Unity Movement" (Movimento da Uni-
ment other than its own National Union.
dade Democratica, or M.U.D.). The purpose
of this movement was the restoration of a
a. The National Union.
democratic form of government and full civil
The National Union, the official government
liberties. It included all the civilian opposi-
party, was founded in 1930 by Salazar as a
tion groups except the Monarchists, and was
movement to guide the political orientation
composed largely of students and of profes-
of the Portuguese people. As designed, the
sional and white-collar workers. The new
Union was to be a means whereby the ten-
movement had the support of a number of
dencies of the Right, the Left, and Center
well-known Portuguese liberals, and attracted
might emerge as controlled political move-
a following of many persons not previously
ments without disturbance to the security of
identified with political activities.
the regime. Its chief function, therefore, is
Apparently alarmed by the extent of opposi-
the promotion of popular support of govern-
tion sentiment revealed, the government soon
ment policies.
began to restrict the activities of this group,
Within this Union, Salazar has attempted
from time to time imprisoning its leaders and
to develop "opposition" movements which
individuals from its membership. Commu-
would provide a nominal, safe competition to
nist control of the M.U.D. became increasingly
the government in presidential and National
apparent, and in April 1948 the movement
Assembly elections. In this attempt, Sala-
was outlawed by the government. A number
zar's apparent purpose is to forestall the de-
of its adherents were tried and sentenced for
velopment of any vigorous and independent
membership in the Communist Party.
SECRET
Page data
- Page
- 13
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 4d2ad4f85298ed89
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 486500738
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "486500738",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500738",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Portugal, Situation Report 31",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500738",
"collections": [
"President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
"Intelligence Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-001.tif",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-001.tif",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-001.tif",
"imageCount": 52,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "486500738",
"label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Portugal, Situation Report 31",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500738"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "486500738",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500738",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Portugal, Situation Report 31",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500738",
"collections": [
"President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
"Intelligence Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-001.tif",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-001.tif",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-001.tif",
"imageCount": 52,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/486500738",
"naId": 486500738,
"levelOfDescription": "item",
"productionDates": [
{
"day": 13,
"logicalDate": "1949-10-13",
"month": 10,
"year": 1949
}
],
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 13,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "photo",
"url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602196/875512/875512-02-013.tif",
"mediaId": "4d2ad4f85298ed89",
"ocrText": "SECRE\n9\ntions have received little more than an apa-\nopposition to his regime by promoting the\nthetic response from the Portuguese public.\ngrowth of \"tame\" political organizations. To\nFrom time to time, however, Salazar permits\ndate, Salazar's efforts in this direction have\nthe temporary appearance of an unlicensed\nbeen unsuccessful.\nopposition, partly to present a window-dress-\nIn the spring of 1948, the Accao Popular, a\ning of \"democracy,\" partly to identify political\n\"monarchist\" movement drawn from ele-\nelements which are hostile to his regime.\nments of the National Union, was formed with\nIn the presidential elections of 1949, for ex-\nthe sanction of the government. The new\nample, Salazar permitted the independent\nmovement manifested little vitality, however,\ncandidacy of 81-year-old Norton de Mattos, a\nand ultimately disappeared. More recently\nretired general and diplomat, in opposition to\nthere has been a somewhat similar activity to\nPresident Carmona, the government candi-\ncreate a \"centrist\" movement with compo-\ndate. Although General de Mattos declared\nnents drawn from the National Union.\nhimself to be an \"English type liberal,\" he\nActual political opposition to the govern-\nwillingly accepted the support of all dissident\nment has appeared mostly in fragmentary\npolitical elements, including the Communists.\nand informal movements which at present\nThe campaign activities of de Mattos were\nhave little significance. Even the Communist\nclosely restricted by the government, which\nParty, which possesses the highest degree of\ndenounced him for the Communist support\norganization among such groups, is compara-\nhe accepted and for his anti-clericalism. The\ntively small.\ncombination of initial weakness of the oppo-\nsition, its acceptance of Communist adherents,\nb. Opposition Groups.\nand the force of government propaganda in-\nThe Democratic Unity Movement.\ncreased popular support for the regime beyond\nIn October 1945 the government, perhaps\nthe government's own expectations. Disin-\nin an experimental effort to determine the\ntegration of the opposition set in even before\nvolume of anti-government sentiment, tem-\nthe election.\nporarily relaxed its ban on political activity\nEven in the presidential campaign of 1949,\nand permitted the organization of an opposi-\nhowever, the government did not permit the\ntion group, which assumed the title of \"Dem-\nparticipation of any authorized political move-\nocratic Unity Movement\" (Movimento da Uni-\nment other than its own National Union.\ndade Democratica, or M.U.D.). The purpose\nof this movement was the restoration of a\na. The National Union.\ndemocratic form of government and full civil\nThe National Union, the official government\nliberties. It included all the civilian opposi-\nparty, was founded in 1930 by Salazar as a\ntion groups except the Monarchists, and was\nmovement to guide the political orientation\ncomposed largely of students and of profes-\nof the Portuguese people. As designed, the\nsional and white-collar workers. The new\nUnion was to be a means whereby the ten-\nmovement had the support of a number of\ndencies of the Right, the Left, and Center\nwell-known Portuguese liberals, and attracted\nmight emerge as controlled political move-\na following of many persons not previously\nments without disturbance to the security of\nidentified with political activities.\nthe regime. Its chief function, therefore, is\nApparently alarmed by the extent of opposi-\nthe promotion of popular support of govern-\ntion sentiment revealed, the government soon\nment policies.\nbegan to restrict the activities of this group,\nWithin this Union, Salazar has attempted\nfrom time to time imprisoning its leaders and\nto develop \"opposition\" movements which\nindividuals from its membership. Commu-\nwould provide a nominal, safe competition to\nnist control of the M.U.D. became increasingly\nthe government in presidential and National\napparent, and in April 1948 the movement\nAssembly elections. In this attempt, Sala-\nwas outlawed by the government. A number\nzar's apparent purpose is to forestall the de-\nof its adherents were tried and sentenced for\nvelopment of any vigorous and independent\nmembership in the Communist Party.\nSECRET"
}