SPANISH UNREST

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1930, Page 5

SPANISH UNREST

LEADER RENEWS THREATS.

(United Prlesa Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright;.

LONDON, December 22

“The Times’s Aladrid correspondent states that the first Council of Aimisters Held since the disorders announces that the recent eienls have not altered their determination to call a general election in the spring. Although it is not yet announcer: when martial law is to end, the Premier, General Bcrenguer, declares that normal tranquility now prevails throughout Spain, but it must be admitted that this has been achieved at the cost of imprisoning thousands. According to a conservative estimate, at least six hundred, without counting the military, have been imprisoned in Madrid alone. Fifteen out of twenty town councillors at Valencia have been arrested, and fugitives are being picked up in all parts of the country. The Captain-General of Catalonia lias ordered the closing of all of the Syndicalist Labour Unions within his three provinces. FRANCO’S STORY. MEANT TO BOAIB PALACE. TILL HE SAW CHILDREN. LONDON, December 22, The “Daily Express’s” special correspondent, who travelled from Aladrid to Mafra, where the rebel leader, Franco came down, reports he had to travel to the French border to escape the Portuguese and Spanish censorship and transmit from Franco a statement which says:—“lf it had not been for little children playing in the square, I should have blown King Alfonso’s palace to pieces. My bombs were ready to drop. I had my hand on the lever, but I saw the kiddies. I simply could not do it. I continued to fly over Maddrid. The expected signal, which would have sent a wave of republicanism throughout the city, never came. The revolution failed this time. It will succeed eventually. The King must go. AVe must deliver Spain. We must make her a European power. At present she is a mere Moroccan nation. When a republic is established, King Alfonso will be made to answer to a national assembly for his deeds, economic as well as political. The present failure of the revolution is due principally to a Spanish love for putting off things until to-morrow. Al.v friends and I are going to different countries for a while. AVe shall be busy. Tell England that Spanish republicanism is <far from dead. It Is very much alive.” KING SLEEPS AT BRITISH EMBASSY, PARIS, December 21, "Le Journal’s” special Madrid correspondent says hough' the trouble in Spain is temporarily over, elaborate precautions have been taken to protect King Alfonso, from a fear of his assassination. He is reported to have slept at the British Embassy for the past few nights.,” The correspondent .says he inspected a secret passage from the Royal Palace, where an aeroplane pilot Is ready night and day in the event of King Alfonso deciding to fly from the country. THE REBEL LEADERS. LONDON, December 22. The Lisbon correspondent of “The Times” says-Franco and Rada have been granted passports to Uruguay, of which they were made citizens after their plusultra flight. Llanos has been granted a passport to Holland. The other Spanish revolutionaries are mostly in Germany.