Activities of Sidónio Pais, the leader of the First Portuguese Republic, in December 1917 – May 1918 in the weekly reports of the British Foreign Office

This article examines the activities of the leader of the First Portuguese Republic Sidonio Pais in December 1917 - May 1918. The study aims to identify the specifics and analyse the results of his activity on the basis of the weekly reports of the British Foreign Office, which are being introduced into scientific discourse for the first time in the domestic historiography. The article mainly used retrospective, systemic and narrative research methods. The retrospective method allowed considering the activities of Sidonio Pais in December 1917 - May 1918 in its dynamics and logic, highlighting the main events of this period and its cause-and-effect relationships. When using the systemic method, these activities was shown and characterized as a system of actions aimed mainly at preserving, strengthening and securing the sole control of Portugal. The narrative method was used to describe the content and reflect the nature of these historical sources. This method also made it possible to select and review the most significant documents of this complex and the information contained therein for the purpose of this work. In December 1917 Sidonio Pais, who came to power as a result of the December coup d'etat of 1917, was first the head of the short-lived Revolutionary Junta, then unconstitutionally took the posts of Prime Minister, Minister of War, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and President. The main direction of his activity as the leader of the First Portuguese Republic in December 1917 - May 1918 was to solve the problem of preserving, strengthening and securing the sole control of Portugal. Its solution was found in the holding of the general presidential and parliamentary elections on April 28, 1918. To achieve victorious results, the suffrage and public administration were reformed, in particular, the right to vote was granted to the illiterate; certain representatives of political, social and economic groups appeared in the Portuguese Parliament - the Congress; the president was given the right to appoint and dismiss government members; the upper and lower houses of the Congress were given the right to introduce constitutional amendments. Despite the acute socio-economic and political problems, Sidonio Pais, like the National Republican Party he created, won the elections. This victory solved for him the problem of preserving, strengthening and securing sole control. He was officially recognized as President inside and outside Portugal. However, the conduct and results of the presidential election attracted criticism due to the participation of only one candidate and a small number of voters. The weekly reports of the Foreign Office reflected the most important, from the Office's perspective, aspects of Sidonio Pais' activities in December 1917 - May 1918. These sources also showed the main events and directions Sidonio Pais' activities and important historical details on this topic. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

Keywords

Authors

References