CRISIS IN SPAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1931, Page 5

CRISIS IN SPAIN

CABINET RESIGNS LONDON PRESS REPORTS. [United Press Association.—By Electric j Telegraph.—Copyright, j LONDON, February 14. A guardedly worded message Irani Madrid mentions there is excitement as a result of mysterious activities on the pant of the Government and other political leaders. It is stated that Ueneral Berenguer intends to resign inline. j diately,, following on an interview with Count Bomanones. 'J ins is a-sociateu with a rumour that the King has acceded to a popular demand lor the convocation ot a Constituent Assembly. Such Assembly would review the whole constitutional situation, and might even ask King Alfonso to abdicate. According ito another rumour, a group of generals met at Saragossa, ostensibly to see a German film, but actually to engineer another dictatorship. Whether this is true or otherwise, the fact remains that the .Ministry of War last night was the centre of unusual activity. MADRID, February 14. Intense excitement prevails. It is / felt that the nexjt. few horns will de- \ cide Spain’s future. Opposition to King Alfonso is daily strengthening, being helped by a seizure t»f newspapers, closing of the principal auditorium hero, and imprisonment of those whose comments indict the Government, The press of ithe extreme Right considers that Party divisions will lender civilian government impossible, and the papers demand the continuance of a dictatorship. The possibility of King Alfonso’s abdiction is officially denied. Queen Ena, who spent a recent sojourn in England beside the sick bed of her mother, Princess Beatrice, is hastening ito Madrid in order to be by her husband’s side.

KING ARRANGING FOR NEW CABINET. MADRID, February 14. , The Cabinet of General Berengeur has resigned. King Alfonso is. consulting the political leaders with a, view to the forma-tion-of a new Ministry, probably one of a national character.