THE DICTATORSHIP OF SPAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1929, Page 2

THE DICTATORSHIP OF SPAIN

(Otago Daily Times.) Plots and attempts at revolt in Spain under the Dictatorship have been so common and generally subject to such speedy suppression that the addition of another to the list would nol ordinarily excite much comment. Judged, however, by the news which, despite a strict censorship, has leaked through to the outside world during the last few dnj r s, the affair of the rising in Valencia in which the garrison lias been concerned, though like previous episodes oi the kind nipped in the bud, is regarded as of considerable significance. The Madrid correspondent of the. Journal des Debats lias been responsible for some sensational messages, the purport of which is that, while the victory of the Government is outwardly complete, the national feeling against it is such that the end of the Dictatorship may come at any time. In any event the tendency of the succession of outbursts of disaffection with which the Dictatorship has had 1o deal must be to create the impression that its position is dis-

tinctively insecure, if not actually peri- I lous at the present time. The dictum of the Italian statesman, Signor Nitti, that dictatorship is a confession of political incapacity and sloth in the governed is one that will command somewhat idle approval.

It was prophesied by M. Lenin that Spain would be the first European country to follow in the footsteps v of Russia. Such a prediction could only be based on his judgement that in Spain, as in Ru.-mu, a purposeful minority might seize power and exploit the political ignorance and weakness of the nation to its own ends without meeting with any determined resistance. From this point of view, it is suggested, General Primo de llivera, .Marquis de Estella, has as much right as Signor Mussolini to pose as the saviour oi country from Bolshevism. From the beginning of the dictatorship over five years ago the attitude of the majority of the Spanish people towards it would seetn to have been a compound of apathy, scepticism, and cynicism. The nation was certainly pleased to see General de Rivera bring to an end the tragically costly and protracted Spanish campaign in Morocco. The Dictatorship has had the advantage of the backing of the King’s influence, which really saved the situation in the case of the Artillery rebellion in 1926. In geptem-

ber last the celebrations in honour oi the fifth anniversary of tile Dictatorship were enlivened by the discovery o a plot against the existing regime o! which the ramifications seem to have been fairly wide. Some time ago Senor Sanche: Guerra, leader of the Old Conservative Party and Prime Minister in 1922, issued a manifesto pointing to the danger off civil war coming about sooer oj later unless the passive resistance o many anti-Government elements in tin country could be transformed into : settled and vigorous determination t uphold the new and reformed constitu tion which it was the business of tin present Assembly to elaborate. In 192 King Alfonso signed a decree couvokiiq a. Rational Consultative Assembly, as ; necessary prelude to constitutional' re form, with 'the mission of devising th electoral law under which members the future Legislation Assembly iniglibe chosen. This represented an experi meat, a working arrangement by wine! it may lie possible to pass from gov eminent by dictatorship to a politico system corresponding to the feeling o the country. The whole purpose of the Consult;! tivej Assembly, it was stated was t offer a parade-ground fc>r new men, am a platform for new ideas, so as to trail up a now political class to undorstau what the real national problems are But the invitation of General de River for co-operation in the work of thi trial body on the part of men of al shades of opinion as scarcely enthus instic.. The progressive elements of tin nation take the view, it seems, that at long as the present Government claim; to have the lust word on all question; of policy, and the press censorship continues, there can be no place for then in political life. They declare that tli method of nomination has deprived tin Assembly of all virtue as “a first instalment of representative governmen as well as the second stage in the Dictatorship,” that there is no guarantee of freedom of opinion, since member; of the Assembly as such enjoy no privilege or immunity whatsoever, and t-hai the whole scheme of which the Asscmbl, is an element is invalid from the constitutional point of view because, withou an elective Assembly, the King can sign only decrees and not laws. Tilt disposition of the more enlightened Spaniards to refuse to pit their brains against the reactionary supporters oi the present Government cannot be helpful to the evolution of the kind of regime which they desire. It is generally admitted that tin weakness of Spain in the past has been due to the constant lack, of a national policy. The professed belief of the present regime is that tlie task of building up the more representative constitution necessary for the country’s growth and development can be most effectually achieved by process entailed the suspension of constitutional rights. Unlike Fascism, the movement in Spain nas never laid claim to any revolutionary character nor does it depend upon popular enthusiasm or a rabid nationalism. An organisation upon which General Primo de Rivera sets great store is the so-called Patriotic Union, first created hs a party to support his policy, and lately he reiterated the doctrine of the control of the Government by the citizen through his organisation. Evidently, however, there is a lack of appeal or cohesion about the scheme, xor the symptoms of discontent increase rather than diminish.