The Dominion. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1917. A SPANISH REVIVAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1917. A SPANISH REVIVAL

At their face value reports from Madrid to-day imply that the result of tho recent political upheaval in Spain has been to very greatly strengthen the parties in that country which "condemn a policy of spiritless neutrality and are prepared, if necessary, to go to war in defence of Spanish lives and interests. It is stated that Spain is definitely and rapidly taking a stand for the; Entente, and the few details supplied at time of writing certainly suggest that revolutionary changes have occurred both in publio opinion and in the attitude and policy of the Government. Particular interest attaches to the statement that the principal nowspapers have' dismissed their Germanophile writfers and are publishing antiGerman articles.' Until recently tho Germans had an extraordinary hold upon an important section of tho Spanish Press. Since tho war,began a number' of the principal Spanish newspapers have been simply and solely organs of German propaganda. It has been remarked time after time by the leading Madrid organs, an English correspondent stated recently, that the pro-German papers which attacked the Government were permitted to do so practically unmolested by the Censor or the Public Prosecutor, whereas papers striving to put forward the case for the Allies wero greatly hampered in their task. There could be no healthier sign, and no more promising indication of a change in Spanieh policy than such a radical reformation of the I Press as is now reported. It is in keeping with this development that the- Government is said to have issued a- decree forbidding belligerent submarines to enter l Spanish waters on pain of internment. This is a distinct reversal of past policy. Until recently the Spanish Government toqk no effective steps to exclude enemy submarines from its territorial waters. It may seom strange that public opinion in Spain has developed and asserted itself to the extent indicated without enforcing a change of Government. As a matter of fact, a change of Government is not unlikely, . but it is a feature of the situation that no great party in Spain can bo labelled as definitely pro-German. Tho Liberals, who were returned to power at last election, are divided on vital war issues. The Conservatives, now in office, have somo leanings to a policy of action. Tho Radical and Republican Parties have outspokenly denounced the "shameful neutrality" observed by successive Governments. Pursuing her projects in Spain, Gormany has throughout; depended upon the operation of dark forces," which cut across ordinary party lines, and for a- time were more powerful than the promptings of patriotism and national interest. Just such developments as arc now reported havo been forsccn and even predicted, however, by well-inform-ed observers in Spain. Reviewing the situation some time ago, the Madrid correspondent of tho London Times pointed out that tho policy of tamely submitting to any outrage Germany might care to inflict found favour only with that part of the Spanish nation which represented authority, inherited, wealth, and privilege. The.greater part of the clergy, with their blind antipathy to the French; the Conservatives and Carhsts, with their secular jealousy of England; the Army, with its professional zeal for what it regarded as tho first military Power in the world; the leisured classes, couscious of their own want of preparation to face a supreme crisis and shrinking from any course that might entail unaccustomed effort or risk-all these combined, .to.prcvenb tho Government

from utteri.iig or allowing to bo uttered effective criticism of German action, however outrageous, lost they 'no involved in the quarrel.

To such a, pass (continued tho correspondent) hnvo the upper classes, the bocalled classes directoros, brought the country. Bnt a roaction appears to bo at hand. Senor Lorronx'e speech in tho Cortes [a.- speecli in which tho Radical leader vigorously denounced "shameful neutrality"] may herald tho approach of a etorni, still perhaps distant, of which tho premonitory rumblings have been heard for some time past in .tho Press. Prom tho beginning tho advanced elenionta gauged correctly tho international situation of Spain. They alone, sti'ange to say, saw the full promise of Spanish neutrality, rightly conceived, and tho full danger of its perversion to selfish ends. In thq ''Liberal" of Madrid, the "Mereantil" of Valencia, and the weekly review, "Espana," to namo three papers only, the Government have been warned unremittingly of tho consequences of their pusillanimity; and now that tho warnings show promise of fulfilment tho adherents and Authority of tho men who uttered them are increasing. The wholo of the Republican, Socialist, and advanced Liberal Parties are seen to bo coming into lino in dofenco of a national ideal. Theso reformers are still without the charmed circle of those who iiro privileged to govern the country, and they still lack organisation and leadership; but they have brains, conrage, and intellectual honesty, and, having these, will probably attract to themselves the eympathy of the commercial and professional classes, to whom politics are alreays of less importance than policy, as well as tho great mass of the workers, who are tho first to suffer by tho snpinenesff- of the Government. TheTo aro signs of change in Spain. \

Anticipations of this nature wero sadly disappointed in April last, ■when Count Romanonbs, then Prime Minister, protested vigorously to Germany against tho sinking of the San Fulgoncio—a, Spanish, ship carrying a German safe-conduct— and demanded an indemnity _ and guarantees for tho future. This action seemed to mark an end of spiritless neutrality, but instead the pro-German elements in Spanish politics, and in the Spanish Press, succeeded in forcing tho Government to resign. Count Romanones. in departing from office, declared that tho time had come when every man of conscience must give his vote and take his part in the European conflict. He pointed out that out of a very limited mercantile marine Spain had lost thirty-five ships' of over 1000 tons since tho Germans began their unrestricted warfaro, and added:

Wβ neutrals are more blockaded than Great Britain. Our vessels no longer leave our ports, and "business is paralysed. Exports are impossible. It means nun, and -while they are ruining us the Germans are carrying on in- our midst nn energetic propaganda, seeking, to frighten the people by dwelling in their newspapers upon the horrors of war, and setting, themselves up as champions' of the peace of fclio world. The idea is absurd, but it is at the same timo ingenious. • .«. .

For tho time the triumph of the pro-German and anti-national party was complete, but to-day's news suggests that the triumph was temporary, and that tho Spanishpeople and Army have madelt plain that they will no longer tolerate a policy which makes their country a mere pawn in Germany's hands, and at tho same time an unresisting victim of German outrage. \