Almost since the foundation of Macau, Portugal's relations with
China have been determined as much by relations with neighboring
districts as much with the authorities in Guangzhou, and beyond that, the
seat of empire. Not only did the south of China play a pivotal role
in the movement leading to the overthrow of the Qing, but Guangzhou, the
major metropolis in the south, emerged after the Chinese revolution of
1911, as a hotbed of radical intrigue from both Guomindang and commu-
nist quarters that often spilled over into the Portuguese and British
colonies alike. This chapter seeks to situate the delicate role of Portugal
in this revolutionary process, especially in mediating the issue of Macau's
boundaries with Beijing, and, at the same time, dealing judiciously with
whatever power in control in Guangzhou and the surrounding districts,
not an easy task in an age of war and revolution.

The expulsion in 1910 of the Royal family from Lisbon and the end of
the monarchy with the exile of the last king, the young Manuel II, was
mourned by few in Portugal. Notwithstanding the support of diehard
monarchists, at the end of the day, the army withdrew crucial support. In
the event, the Republic came in on a wave of popular enthusiasm, even if,
after sixteen years, when the military ushered in the Estado Novo or
fascist-style corporativist state under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, its
policies were bankrupt. Fundamentally, the liberal and democratic, albeit
anti-clerical and petit-bourgeois foundations of the Republic, tapped
popular sentiment for change.

Needless to say, news of the downfall of the monarchy created a small
sensation in Macau. As a British analyst interpreted events, loyalties
between pro-monarchists, generally the "better classes", and republicans,
supported inter alia by soldiers and more particularly sailors hopeful of
better pay, found deep division in Macau. But while the Governor of

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