AUTONOMY MOVEMENT IN SPAIN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 151, 21 March 1919, Page 5

AUTONOMY MOVEMENT IN SPAIN

TOWARDS DECENTRALISED REPUBLICANISM STRONG FEELING IN CATALONIA The autonomist movement in Spain is progressing at an amazing rate (writes the special correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor" from Madrid).'No Spanish political movement has ever been conducted With so much earnestness, sincerity, and determination. The Catalonians mean to be free and to govern themselves, and it is difficult to see how, if they come to a decision, they are going to be prevented. They are bent on Spain being-broken up again into self-governing provinces when racial and other conl- - mark clear individualities. As has already been reported, Vizcaya, the country of the Basques, is now as keen on autonomy as Catalonia, though it has perhaps less driving force in .its movement than have the Catalonians. After their recent appeal to President Wilson, the organisers of the movement in Vizcaya have circulated extensively in Bilbao and throughout the province a 'manifesto setting forth certain points. The first of these, which is headed, "The w:eak nations and the strong," extols tho excellence of the ideas expressed by President Wilson in his speech on the inauguration of the Liberty Loan in the United States, and the conclusions there formulated are reproduced, showing how the small nations should be tho equals of the great before the law.

In the second section of this manifesto, headed "The Triumph of Nationalism," it is said that the ultimate evolution in human thought on matters of government amounts simply to pure nationalism, and that the doctrines which everybody accepts to-day, and which are regarded as the salvation of Europe and civilisation, and which have for ideals respect for the small peoples and self-determination, are the doctrines also Of the VizGayans. A third point refers to the time in 1539 when the independence of Yizcaya was taken away from it. This is headed "Oclrte 2")," the date when the province lost its independence, and it alludes to it as the time when the "great crime'' was perpetrated against the Vnscon people and when Vascon independence passed away, but declares that tho light of hope now'shines again. The vigour of this propaganda work in Vizcaya has created much surprise in Government circles, whore tho authorities are at a loss to know what to do with it.

In Catalonia, however, the matter has assumed a much more formidable aspect. Tho like of it has never been seen before. A general meeting of Catalonians interested in securing self-government has just been held in lhircolona in most remarkable circumstances. It was an extraordinary demonstration, organised and carried through with the* utmost care and j determination. In most, if not all, cases ■ tho ayuntamientos, or municipal councils, of Catalonia had passed resolutions in advance in favour of autonomy, and it was decided that in many cases these ayuntamientos should be represented <it the great demonstration en bloc, as it were, the whole council attending as a corporation. In other cases the .councils sent delegations to the meeting. Smaller country communities duly sent their representatives. All the shops and other establishments of Barcelona wero invited to dose their doors at. half-past twelve, so that everybody might be given a chance of attending tho procession and fho subsequent meeting. Tho speeches made on the occasion of this demonstration were very pointed and vjgorou-\ and differed appreciably from tho ordinary kind of. Spanish political speech, iu that they did not abound with tho usual insincere ' platitudes and nothingnesses, nor with any fine flourishes of rhetoric upon lofty ideals. The general effect was that Catalonia by race, language, cultivation, and tendency, and other points had the fullest right to govern heisolf, and that with her manufac-tu-vs, her intellectual and physical vigor, and her enterprise, she could nialco a much better country of herself than Spain, governing her from Madrid, could ever do. Senor Macia, a deputy and one of the advanced Cataloiiians who ad-yo-:a,to absolute independence, made a speech in which he. said: "It is necessary to go forward.' Autonomy is not enough (or us. Wo must achieve independence and prove tlml we are capable of marching alone." Although the advocates of independence appear io be in a minority, it is evident that they have a strong backing among the people, for when. Senor Macia. spoke these words ho was chcorod enormously for several minutes, an 1 tin, crowd in its enthusiasm wished to carry . him on its shoulders to his house. While all this was going on various incidents of interest were happening in adjacent, places. A group "of demonstrators was assembled for tho purposo of sir.ging the "Marseillaise," which it did with vigour, while another section got together to sing "El Scgadors" ("Tho Rer.i)erft"\ which is the hymn of the Region;ilist League. The'whole of<tho picceedings.was impressive, and must be regarded as being of the utmost significance.

In advance of this mooting (ho newspaper, "La Veil de Catalunya," at tho top of 11 programme of the arrangements, published tho following appeal in tho Catalan.language: "Cnlalonians, the war ends with-tho univerfiai proclamation of tho right of pcopictj to govern themselves bv themselves. The great hour of .Catalonia has come. We desire our infernal liberties and the organic independence ofour land. This is the Cntalonian, nation il desire legally expressed in the plebiscite of its ayuntamientos, • which on Saturday will bo carried solemnly to the Mr.ncnmunidml. Let us all go' on Saturday to the l'laza dn San .Tnime, and let us proclaim the autonomy of Catalonia!"

Port wine owes its position lo what was largely an accident. Portuguese wines would not stand the journey to England, and tho addition of a little alcohol wa? found, necessary. Consequently tho natural fermentation was checked at an early stage and tho natural sugar retained. Its sweetness luaoe it immediately popular, and it has been in strong request ever since.