TCDE-Team at 10:59, 7 July 2016

2016-07-07T10:59:26Z

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''Political Prisoners in Portugal'' is a letter written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Times]] on 13 may 1913.

== Political Prisoners in Portugal ==
[[File:The-Times-1913-05-13-political-prisoners-in-portugal.jpg|250px|right|thumb|[[The Times]] (13 may 1913)]]

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir, — Portugal is our ancient ally, and we have given each other
many mutual proofs of friendship in peace and in war. We cannot
believe, however, that the present Government truly represents
Portugal any more than Robespierre and his Jacobins represented
France. We have before us cruelty, injustice, want of chivalry,
everything which is alien to the real Portuguese nature. In
protesting against it we are not wronging our old friend, but rather
asking to see that friend's face once more.

No one can read without pain and anger the piteous tale of the
thousands of political prisoners who have been held under the
most barbarous conditions, some of them not even tried after two
years, under a ''régime'' which supplies no food at all to an untried
prisoner. The present condition of the Lisbon prisons seems to
have been equalled only by those of Naples in the days of King
Bomba. The damp, reeking, vermin-crawling cells are tenanted
by men who are either entirely innocent or else are guilty only of
being loyal to the ''régime'' under which they were brought up. Men
are flogged - sometimes to death - and no voice can be raised in
protest. Surely, Sir, if we have indeed any influence it can never be
used in a better cause. But only energetic action can avail. Mere
remonstrance has effected nothing.

There is a precedent in the case of Servia. That nation murdered
its King and Queen under atrocious circumstances. We showed
our sense of the crime by withdrawing our representative. The
Portuguese — or a section of them — have also murdered their late
King and his son. The present Government have made the deed
their own, since public demonstrations have been permitted this
very year in Lisbon in honour of the murderers. Why should we
not do once more what we did in the case of Servia? It would make
the powers that be in Portugal realise as nothing else would do
how utterly unworthy they are to belong to the comity of nations.
The mere threat of such an action might bring about an amnesty.
If not, we can only show our displeasure by refusing to have any
dealings with people so devoid of justice and humanity.

Yours faithfully,

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.<br />
Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex, May 5.

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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]

Political Prisoners in Portugal - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 10:59, 7 July 2016