Churchbell Cabinet

Multifarious are the grave subjects over which Cabinets fume, cleave, resign. Last week Portugal's Cabinet debated the ringing of churchbells. The honorable Portu-gentlemen grew heated, realized a divergence of opinion, resigned en bloc.

The trouble had begun when Mario De Figueiredo, Minister of Justice, signed a decree increasing the citizens' freedom to hold religious parades and to ring churchbells while they did so. Previous regulations had required official permission for each and every general bell-ringing. Reason : it is often by churchbells that popular revolts are called. Disgruntled at this relaxation in the strong-arm sway of Dictator-President General Antonio Oscar de Fragoso Carmona, the Minister of War and others protested. The difference could not be settled.

Dictator Carmona proclaimed: "I will immediately move to solve the political crisis." His followers were not perturbed.