§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANMr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of moving the Resolution which stands in my name on the Paper with regard to the terrible catastrophe which has just occurred in Lisbon. It runs as follows: "That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty to convey to His Majesty the expression of the indignation and deep concern with which this House has learned the assassination of His Majesty's ancient ally and friend His Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves, and of His Royal Highness the Duke of Braganza; and to pray His Majesty that he will be graciously pleased to express to His Majesty the present King, on the part of this House, his faithful Commons, their abhorrence of the crime and their sympathy with the Royal Family of Portugal and with the people of that country." Sir, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find words adequate to express the horror and indignation with which the news 732 of this mad, revolting crime was received throughout the civilised world. And I think the House will agree entirely with me when I say that there are reasons which make that feeling even more intense, and cause a more genuine I commingling with it, of regret and sympathy in this country than anywhere else. The scene indeed is, I believe, almost without parallel in history. The main street of a great city is filled on a quiet afternoon with the usual crowd of peaceable and busy citizens. A carriage drives up containing the members of the Royal Family on their way to resume residence in their home in the capital—a family conspicuous for the qualities of affability, accessibility to all, and for the affection with which they are regarded by all who come in contact with them. Suddenly an assault is made by a group of assassins, and the King, the manly, friendly, kindly King, a man of high intelligence and of great accomplishment, a man devoted to his people and to his duty, is smitten to death as he sits, and together with him his son, so full of youthful hope and promise. Such a scene brings shame upon the human race, and that shame is only, alas! partially redeemed by the calm courage displayed by a noble woman. It is no wonder that this foul deed has been regarded with execration everywhere; but, as I have said, there are reasons in this country why it should particularly and peculiarly concern us. For Portugal is our traditional friend—the traditional friend of the British people. The King was the close ally and the undoubted friend of our Sovereign, and the stricken Queen was born and brought up within our shores; and if it is not too much to say, I think I may be permitted to do so, that in a large part of her associations and in her heart's affections and sympathies, she may be said to be English. We wish to let the widowed Queen know, we wish to let the young King, summoned amid such tragic circumstances to take so high a place in his country, know, and we wish the whole people of Portugal to know, that nowhere are there better well-wishers and keener sympathisers with them than in this House of Commons. It is for that purpose I move this Resolution.
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS (Kent, St. Augustine's)I rise, Sir, according to precedent, to second the Resolution moved by the Prime Minister. I am sure that the Prime Minister has given expression to the universal feeling of indignation which exists in this House at the dastardly crime which has caused the death of the King of Portugal and of the Duke of Braganza, the Heir-Apparent. It would not be necessary to add anything to the eloquent language which has been used by the Prime Minister were it not that I am anxious to emphasise the unanimity which prevails in this House of abhorrence of the crime, of its sympathy with the Royal family of Portugal, and with the people of that country. Nowhere in the world will these cruel and senseless assassinations be viewed with greater indignation than in this country. Not only was King Carlos related to our Royal Family, not only was his Royal Consort born in this country, but he had made himself a familiar, and I may say a popular, figure to many of our citizens, at all events in the Metropolis. By his general intelligence, by his manly bearing, by his genial courtesy, by his true sportsmanship, and by his loyalty and his unswerving friendship to this country, shown during the whole period of his reign, he had cemented that traditional alliance between the two countries which no passing cloud of misunderstanding ever unsettled, which proyed to be so advantageous to this country, and which it is the desire of every patriotic Englishman long to maintain. We deplore the loss which Portugal has sustained, and we express by this Resolution our abhorrence of the crime which brought it about—a crime which is as brutal as it is useless. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out in its fullest measure to the Queen of Portugal, whose splendid courage we must all admire, to Portugal's new Monarch, Manuel II., on whose shoulders at so early an age and in so tragic a manner the burden of kingdom has been so suddenly placed. We trust that all that stands in Portugal for good government may rally round the youthful King, who has with so much touching candour admitted his want of knowledge and experience, and has appealed to his statesmen for guidance and advice.
734 Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty to convey to His Majesty the expression of the indignation and deep concern with which this House has learned the assassination of His Majesty's ancient ally and friend His Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves, and of His Royal Highness the Duke of Braganza; and to, pray His Majesty that he will be graciously pleased to express to His Majesty the present King, on the part of this House, his faithful Commons, their abhorrence of the crime and their sympathy with the Royal Family of Portugal and with the people of that country.—(Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman.)
To be presented by Privy Councillors and Members of His Majesty's Household.