IN SPAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1931, Page 2

IN SPAIN

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. The political situation in Spain continues to .offer a somewhat curious spectacle. Outbursts of revolutionary leeling attended bv futile efforts at decisive action against the ruling regime, such as that of December last, when Air Force officers attempted to take the lead in a Republican insurrection. have' been not uncommon at

periodic intervals for some years past. The conclusion would naturally be drawn that the Monarchy and the Dictatorship are anything hut popular in Spain, though against which of them the feeling is the stronger it might lie difficult to decide.

The message to The Times from its Madrid correspondent which was published in the cable news this week was anything but flattering in the terms of its reference to King Alfonso and suggested the existence of conditions involving cosiderablo risk to the Throne. The non-political lenders of opinion is ascribed the statement that the traditional Spanish State is :n the last stages of decomposition and the monarchy is an association of parasites on the nation.

A few days ago King Alfonso was reported to have informed the correspondent of the Morning Post that he had still lots of work to do and that he was not going to lenvc the country. This was interpreted as a reply on his part to rumours on his possible abdication. It is apparent that political movements' in Spain will continue to be the subject of speculation and rumour fis long ns fact to: a- n-mulii embittered

over the constitution posii on. There seems to be evidence oi a strong national undercurrent of ,dis. aiisfaction with the existing form of government,

There can he little doubt that, so far as the position may be fraught, as suggested, with growing risk to the Throne, this is the outcome of the manner in which, with the assent of the Sovereign, the restoration of the constitutional form of government to the Spanish people has been delayed. Spain has had seven and a-lialf years’ experience of a Dictatorship that was originally to endure for a few months only. This type of government is evidently not congenial to the national temperament. It is not surprising, therefore, that political parties which are far from quiescent should have been encouraged to foment a considerable measure of agitation of one kind or another.

General Berenguer, who took up the role laid down by General Primo de Riveria, has been described as a plain, straight-forward soldier, direct, strong willed, and vigorous, yet with a iccord of baffling contradictions and a perplexing policy— at once an autocrat and a liberal, a stern disciplinarian and a believer in the restorati m f the constitution of 1876. Inheriting all his predecessor’s troubles, he succeeded to a position of grent difficulty, nnd has had to contend with a growing demand for the return of parliamentary government,

The political-minded in Spain, while

our of patience, rye are told, with the present Administration, recognise that General Berenguer and his Cabinet are honestly intent on the “reconstruction of Spanish politics.” It would not appear, however, that the promises of the Dictator to hold what he has called “furiously sincere” general election in March next have done much to

abate popular dissatisfaction with the

existing regime, and n return to normality may be somewhat difficult of achievement, especially if its scepticism as to the possibility of the elections being properly conducted is believed to’ have justification. On the other hand anything savouring of an attempt on the Government or Monarchist side to interfere with the freedom of the elections would tenu to increase the influence of the revolutionary movement. General Berenguer’s prompt execution of two officers concerned with the military revolt in December was not calculated to decrease the antagonism of the adherents of the Republican cause, which is said to have been rapidly gaining ground in Spanish political life. But while Republicanism is said to have spread widely among the politically active classes, even invading a part of the army, it .sc""’® 1- Uwo affected but little the Monarch' •' of the mnjority of the people. Mr W. Horsfall Cartel T * in the ‘-i-utily Telegraph” the following interesting opinion :—“That the vast majority of Spaniards are still Monarchist | to the core is nn undoubted fact. Even among those who for generations have come under the spell of French ideas there is a distinct cleavage between the many who are convinced that in the abstract a Republic is the best form of government and the few who really want to establish a republic. . . . Today, though you may meet any number of individual Republicans in die towns, Republicanism as an organised force need hardly be taken seriously. There are at present some twenty different Republican groups, and in an individual- ' istie country like Spain it would be a miracle if they could ever be got to act together.” <