SPANISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1931, Page 3

SPANISH POLITICS

RE PORTED MUTINY. BY AN Al’TI I,l.EI! Y REO EM ENT. (United Press Association- By Electro Telegraph.—Copy rignt.i LONDON, February 17. The. “Manchester Guardian’s ' Bordeaux correspondent stales that an ,u~ tillery regiment at .Jetafc. near .Madrid. rose, and that the mutineers placed, guns and shells on the road to the capital, the guns (minting at the •Jetafc. The authorities are taking correspondent, making, common cause with the inhabitants in the lower quai. tors of Madrid, blocked the roads to •la tale. The authorities are taking drastic precautions by placing civil guards at strategic points lest the movement should spread to other garrisons. Jetafc itself appears calm The Madrid Revolutionary Committee has adjourned its call for a strike. MINISTRY BEING FORMED. LONDON, February 18. Fortified with supplies of food in readiness for a night-long sitting, the Madrid Monarchist leaders including General Berengiier, who presided, the Duke of Maura, Count Romanonos, Senor Garcia, Senor Prieto, and Senor La Gierva, assembled early in the evening at the War Ministry, after a silting lasting for five hours. General Berengiier. being unwell, Senor Wais, as the senior Minister, went to the Palace to report to King Alfonso. Senor Prieto stated that aTI present had decided to place themselves at the disposal of the King. He stated that no Government had been formed, hut the members of the Conference offered their services should His to accept them. Count Roma nones said That not all of the members of the Conlerenee would he members of the new Cabinet. He could only say that to-morrow there would be a new Government.. He added:—“We shall call a constituent assembly. We shall meet again at the War Ministry to settle matters.” Tt is thought- probable that General Berengiier will lie Prime Minister. T(, is expected that Count Bomanoncs will he a member of the new Cabinet., ft had been intended to give the Premiership to Senor La Gierva, hut that plan was abandoned, because it is understood that the workers would have called a general strike, orders for which it is believed already bad been given. Tt is believed that the end of the isis is in sight. Tt is stated that the list of t,ho new Cabinet is ready for presentation to King Alfonso. Count Romanonos told a British United Press special correspondent that it was practically certain that the Cabinet would he sworn in later to-da.,. Tt is said that the members 01 the Conservatives’ Conference decided to call a Constituent Assembly to revise the constituent without limiting the powers of King Alfonso as stringently as previously proposed. Admiral Aznnr is likely to he the Premier as General Berengiier is unwilling, or is not chosen.

THE QUEEN'S RETURN. MADRID, February 18. King Alfonso sprang another surprise by meeting Queen Ena at Die railway station. About five hundred people, mostly highly placed persons, awaited the Queen on the -platform. The King’s arrival at the station in morning dress, accompanied by bis two daughters and Don Jamie, was entirely unexpected, and it created excitement. King Alfonso smiled, and waved his silk'hat to the crowd When he saw Queen Ena, who was on the verge of tears, he took her in his arms and hugged and kissed her. By a strange contrast, not more than twenty persons were in the station courtyard, hut as the King and Queen drove, unescorted, through the streets to the palace, thousands of the people cheered their Majesties, who later come out on the balcony and acknowledged the continued applause.