FRESH TROUBLE IN SPAIN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3141, 20 July 1917, Page 5

FRESH TROUBLE IN SPAIN

SEPARATE PARLIAMENT CONVOKED IN BARCELONA CRISIS AGAIN ACUTE (Rec. July 19, 8.30 p.m.) Madrid, July 18. There havo been numerous arrests, including Socialists and editors. The Agrarian Club has been closed. A large number of deputies belonging to the Republican aud Reformist parties have gono to Barcelona, where a separate Parliament has been convoked. Honor Dato (the Premier) lias hurriedly gone to Lagranja, where King Alfonso is on. 'holiday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE BRINK OF ERUPTION GRAVE .DISSATISFACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. (Kec. July 19, 11.15 p.m.) London, July 18. The "Daily Chroniclo's" Madrid correspondent has transmitted through an indirect channel a dispatch in which ho declares that Spain has never had a crisis so great and menacing. "Tho obsoure official assurances that nothing alarming is occurring are, contradicted, ho says, "by tho most rigid and most implacable censorship ever imposed in Spain. Much of the existing uneasiness is due to the newspapers' enforced silonce. Fifty per cent, 'of the population is determined that Spain shall remain outside the war, yet ninety per cent, of the citizens aro suffering all the privations of combatant countries. The situation has been extremely delicate since Juno 1. The Army's fair demands for tho moment have been sutisiied, and tho Government n't last has listened to the domands of tho tailwaymen and Civil Servants. These doubtless -will be settled when the Government has the necessary millions in its possession. "Tho real evil will continue if the present methods are not altered. The desire of tho provinces of Vizcaya, Aragon, and Andalusia for home r.ule is becoming tho dominant question. The deputies of these provinces mot in Victoria and proclaimed the necessity Inr an autonomous Government. The problem is much graver in Catalonia, where a violent outbreak is threatened. A collision has occurred between the Madrid Government and tho Catalonian deputies, and the first result was a miraculous fusion of opposing parties in Catalonia. A, meeting, backed by tho whole public opinion of the Catalonian provinces, has invited all members of Parliament to hold , a consultative sitting at Barcelona oil Thursday. The Government has announced that it is preparefl to prevent such a meeting, even "by .force. The entire country awaits to-morrow with intenso interest. Rapid developments aro expected, and cverv moment is full of gfavity."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.