A BOLT FROM SPAIN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 5

A BOLT FROM SPAIN

SENSATIONAL, SPEECH BY THE

EX-PREMIER

SHOCK TO PRO-GERMANS

Australian-New. Zealand Cable Association,

London, SeptemW 12. Thfl "Daily Telegraph" correspondent at Madrid reports that Senor Antonio Maura (wbo was Premier in 1907), in a speech at Santander, where ho addressed an assemblage of 6000 Conservative delegates from all parts of Spain, said he believed that the interests of Spain, England, and France were reconcilable, and considered that an alliance between England, France, and Spain is natural and unavoidable. "Spain," ho added, "cannot wait until the war ends .before taking sides. It is indispensable that France and England should not be hostile to Spain. 1 '

Senor Maura expressed a desire to return to power, and solicited tlio cooperation 'of the Conservatives. The speech created an enormous sensation in Spain, and consternation amongst the pro-Germans The,majority of fho supporters of Maura are pro-German, hut Maura's prestige'in Spain is firmer than ever.

SENSATION UNABATED KING CONFERS WITH HIS MINISTERS. (Rcc. September 13, 7 p.m.) Madrid, Soptcmber 12. Tho sensation created by Senor Maura's pronouncement is unabated. The speech has induced King Alfonso to confer with his Ministers. It is believed that a formal reaffirmation of neutrality will bo issued. Pro-Ally circles declare that the pro-German campaign has been finally scotched. WHAT IS HIS OBJECT? (Rec. September 14, 1.25 a.m.) Madrid, September 13. Sonor Maura's real object is doubtful. Ho 'had always been Francophile and Anglophile, though his clerical and military supporters were pro-German. He is now anxious to regain the popularity ho lost through his harsh policy of repression with tho Barcelona revolutionaries. ' Thero are 80,000 Germans in Spain, and in a most active and astute campaign they have largely persuaded the Spaniards that the Central Powers are invincible. Public opinion is tending to believe in tho possibility of a German victory, but wants something in exchange for Spanish support. The Promier, Count Romanoncs, apparently approves of Maura's speech, which may portend a union of Maura's and Romanones's forces in a National Cabinet. HOW SPAIN IS MISLED SUCCESS OF THE GERMAN LIE SYSTEM. ("The Times.") London, September 12. Lord Northcliffo, 'Who is visiting Spain, writes that the widespread German propaganda has convinced Spaniards of Germany's invincibility and ultimate success. The Spanish Church, aristocracy, and Court officials support the German cause. Thero aro 80/000 German refugees in Spain, who aro everywhere favourably received. Wireless messages daily flood the country with lies, while there is tho most amazing ignorance regarding the Allies, particularly Britain, duo to our failure to moot and confute the enemy's propaganda.

A HUN-INFESTED KINGDOM "Tho Times" special correspondent in Spain, writing on February 26 last, said:—"Unliko tho English and French residents in Spain, m<iny of whom havo left to tako part in tho war, tho Germans havo largely increased in numbors sinco war began. ~ It is strange how few able-bodied Germans have been, recalled. At Seville a party of clerks had a great sond-off, but returned a few days later with evory sign of satisfaction. From the early days of tho war Sovillo, Malaga, and Cadiz all swarmed with healthy, aggressive, and inquisitive Germans, many of thorn of military ago and bearing, who boast-

od openly of the Kaiser's approaching march through Spaa to Gibraltar, 'and of what 'KulW i»ould do for Spain when once it got tie chance. Many Ueiman refugees arrived from Morocco, Algiers, and tho Eait, and, having ••cached this pleasant land, found themselves unable or' unwilling to proceed further. To these mist be added.tho crowß of tho numerous German vessels m Spanish ports, whoso sole business it has become to spy md smuggle in their country's interest* and to nl'ak6 themselves useful and ■ agreeable on shore. In all, they are'popularly estimated at 50,000, and under tho leadership of their Diplomatic and Consular Corps they form a veritable army in-, discipline and cohesion. German methods with the Press, apart from tho direct bribery of which W€ have heard so much, are simple and elective. Au elaborate news servico with copious comment is supplied daily from tho German Office m Barcelona to all tho newspapers throughout Spain. It is a slanderous and dishonest news vice, but - it is cleverly ediiod, full, clear, and interesting; and it costs nothing. The Spanish newspapers na-turally-avail them6elres of it.to the full. As for the" advertisements, tho whole Gorman trading community agreed at one fell swoop to withdraw their custom from pro-Ally newspapers, and to give it to their own supporters in the Press; and they have done their best to ensure that loss of circulation shall follow loss of advertisements and to make life- intolerable for individual writers who favour tho Allies. They have influenced many technical newspapers with tho object of discrediting British scientific methods and instruments of j precision. Our wannest supporters in tho Press, the 'Liberal' and the 'Correspondoncia,' have suffered severely by thos« manoeuvres, as have also tho "Heraldo,' the 'Nuevo Muhdo,' tbo 'Diluvio' of Barcelona, and many others.' Even neutral newspapers, such as the 'Epoca-' and tne 'linparcial,' have been made to feel the strain. On,tho other hand, the independent 'A.8.C., an ably-conducted newspaper with a strong. pjo-Gefiuan bias, has largely increased in circulation and influence, whilo the reactionary and German 'Correo'Espanol,' which was negligible when war broke out, now shows 6i'gns of an unmerited prosperity. Many newspapers aro still friendly to us, and many of the best writers still defend their own convictions and our cause with coiwa«o and ability; but the Spanish Press is not rich, and the rise in the cost of living; and in the price ,of paper, makes the German boycott increasingly hard to bear. "Tho whole German effort in Spam is a triumph of patriotism, efficiency, and determination, and its effect is slow but sure. Tho Allies should make up their minds to counter it before it is too late."

The King's Action. Whatever the King's sympathies may' have been, his action and that of his Government were determined from the first by two main considerations. First, that peace was tho greatest of Spanish interests, and secondly, that tho geographical position of Spain, coupled with recent political obligations, imposed upon her the necessity of living in close and friendly relations with England and Franco. Don Alfonso is a man of clear sight and quick decision, and he lost no time in defining his position. While tho neutrality of Spain was formally proclaimed, ho hastened to relievo tho French, by his personal assurance, of all anxiety concerning their frontiers both in tho Pyrenees and Morocco, an assuranco worth several army corps to them at a most critical moment. At. tho same time ho reassured the British Government as to Spanish designs upon Portugal, suiting tho action to the word by withdrawing part of the frontier garrisons in ,the valley of tho Tagus. As Spanish relations with both France and Portugal have not been entirely free from friction of late, His Majesty's action in these matters displayed a genorosity thoroughly in\ keeping with the best traditions of tho Spanish character and a pleasing contrast to the huckstering methods which have lately been a too common feature of international dealing. The course of Spanish policy was thus early marked out by the England Ub Prime Minister, Sehor Date, in accordance with the common sense and »n« terost of' tho country. It gained tho whole-hearted support of all tho party loaders, from Senor Maura, on tho Right, to Sonores Lefroux and Iglosias,

on the Left, and could count upon, a practically unanimous vote in both Houses of * Parliament. But tho neutrality of Spain as officially defined is* a term of wido meaning. Under it Spain became a valuable source of supply of foodstuffs, raw material, and manufactures for such of the belligerents as required them provided always that v they could pay for them and take them away. Tin's condition of things operated entirely to the advantage of the Allies, owing to their having command of the sea; and Ministers, who exercised a wide> discretion and could facilitate' or obstruct the provision of such supplies in a thousand "ways, were subjected to constant pressure by the partisans of both sides. 'Die Carlists and their friends w'.ere especially violent. By their organ, the "Cqrreo Espanol," which maintains close relations with tho German' Embassy hi Madrid, they started an unscrupulous campaign of vituperation against England, while the followers of Sonor Maura, • tho socalled "Jovenes Mauristas," less clearsighted than their leader, entered upon a course of political rowdyism designed to warn Ministers aaginst any excess of benevolence towards the Allies. Needless to say, their efforts were vain. Sonor Dato and his colleague, the Marques do Lema, well knew.that all this sound and fury did not represent the voice of the Spanish nation, and they held on their straight and -steady, course.