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    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Portugal, Situation Report 31",
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    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Agency, Portugal, Situation Report 31",
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    "seq": 12,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "8\nECRE\nOctober 1945, with less than 50 percent of the\n1945 to provide for colonial representation in\neligible voters participating.\nthe National Assembly. Other revisions, pres-\ne. Civil Liberties.\nently being considered, envisage a more flexi-\nble delegation to the colonial governors of\nExcepting only freedom of religious prac-\npowers now vested in the Minister of Colonies\ntice, Salazar long ago suspended the civil lib-\nand increased representation of native in-\nerties provided for in the Portuguese constitu-\nterests in the colonial governments.\ntion, which guarantees freedom of expression\nThe Colonial Act of 1930 provides for ad-\nof thought, of teaching, and of assembly and\nministrative decentralization and financial\nassociation. It further provides for the in-\nautonomy of the colonies SO far as is com-\nviolability of domicile and freedom from im-\npatible with the constitution, their stage of\nprisonment without evidence of guilt. The\ndevelopment, and their own resources. In\ngovernment is authorized by the constitution,\npractice, however, the government has\nhowever, to curtail these rights when neces-\ngranted little autonomy to the colonies, gov-\nsary \"to safeguard the moral integrity of the\nerning them from Lisbon by an appointed\ncitizens and to prevent perversion of public\nbureaucracy.\nopinion as a social force\", and it is under this\nThe colonial governor is the chief executive\nproviso that Salazar has acted.\nof the colony, subject to supervision by the\nIn July 1947 the government issued a de-\nMinister of Colonies. Local administrative\ncree-law which authorizes the Cabinet to exile\ninstitutions vary, including municipal cham-\nfrom Portugal, or to confine in forced resi-\nbers, municipal commissions, and local boards,\ndence in any part of the national territory,\naccording to the importance, development,\nany person whom it judges to be a potential\nand European population of the individual\nperpetrator of crimes against the security of\nareas. These bodies are created or abolished\nthe State.\nby the colonial governor, upon approval of the\nTo maintain internal security, Salazar em-\nMinister of Colonies.\nploys a secret police force, the PIDE (Policia\nThe general budget of a colony requires the\nde Inteligencia a Defesa do Estado). Al-\napproval of the Minister of Colonies. Only\nthough an agency of the Ministry of Interior,\nthe National Assembly can approve colonial\nthe PIDE is officered by reserve or active army\nagreements with foreign nations and author-\nofficers. It has extraordinary powers and its\nize colonial credit operations in foreign mar-\noperations frequently include arbitrary arrest,\nkets. Both of these functions are carried out\nphysical brutality, and indefinite detention in\nby the national government on behalf of the\nprison. This force is very closely controlled\ncolony.\nby its director and would take the side of\nwhatever political group he supported. It\n3. Political Organizations.\nwill probably remain loyal to Salazar. The\nPIDE is highly vulnerable to graft, and dur-\nWithin Portugal the party system, in the\ning the early stages of World War II sold in-\nordinary sense, has ceased to exist, and since\nformation to both sides. It is a very effective\nthe advent of the present regime, Portugal's\norganization, having informers in all govern-\npolitical development has been generally re-\nmental and most private agencies, and is\nstricted to government-sponsored movements\ngreatly feared by the public.\nwithin the framework of the corporative state.\nAt present the only legal political organiza-\nf. Colonial Administration.\ntion is the Uniao Nacional, or National Union,\nPortugal considers its Empire as an integral\nwhich dominates all political life.\npart of the nation, rather than a string of\nUnder this rigid system of political control,\nseparate and isolated possessions. The con-\nand in a nation politically unsophisticated and\nstitution applies to the colonies when not in\ndeprived of free political expression for a gen-\nconflict with the Colonial Act or specifically\neration, recent opposition to the government\nlimited to the continent and adjacent islands\nhas generally been feeble and disorganized,\n(Madeira and Azores). It was amended in\nand even the government-approved organiza-"
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