Minister Bryan to the Secretary of State .
Lisbon, Portugal , May 21, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the sudden resignation, just announced, of the Regenerador ministry, which had resumed office but eight weeks ago, has caused unprecedented surprise and perplexity throughout the realm. In the official statement which is herewith inclosed, giving his reason for resigning, the prime minister admitted that he and his colleagues appealed to the King to permit them to adopt drastic measures against Republicans, or, as they expressed it, “adopting measures to insure public order and the respect due to the monarchical institutions of the country.” The King emphasized his displeasure at this admission of inability to cope with simple problems by calling João Franco, a dissident from the Hintze Ribeiro party, to form a Conservative ministry, composed of deserters from the Regeneradores—that is, from a faction designated as Regeneradores Liberals.
The Republicans are jubilant. They will, in fact, have accomplished much for the good of Portugal if, as a result of their protests, the overthrow of the recent” ministry prompts its successor to order fair elections. A prominent Monarchist remarked to me recently in this connection that there were no Republicans in Portugal, those so designated being merely the disfranchised voters clamoring for their electoral rights and ready to support any party, the dynasty above all, which will secure their rights to every citizen.
The composition of the new ministry is the following: President of the council and minister of the interior, João Franco; justice, José Novaes; treasury, Driesel Schroeter; war, Vasconcellos Porto; navy and colonies, Ayres Ornellas; foreign affairs, Luiz de Magalhães; public works, Malheiro Reymão.
I have, etc.,