The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1931. SPANISH SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1931. SPANISH SITUATION.

Spain bag had its revolution and trams, formed itself into a republic; but it is not quite clear wliat is to happen next. 'lne abdication ol King Alfonso, a writer on international points out, is not particularly cielinite or conclusive; indeed, he seems deliberately to have.left himself an opening fur some future attempt to regain the throne if the opportunity comes, There is something impressive in the j tenacity with which tnese royalties ding to their monarchical traditions. -The Infanta Isabella, Alfonso’s aunt, at the age of 80, though bedridden by paralysis, luul insisted on being carried out of her ungrateful country. She was evidently a true daughter of Isabella, that martial queen whose eoiilliet with th ( ; I'arlists caused so much confusion in Spain, ami anxiety in British diplomatic circles in the old Victorian days and the aged lady has not long survived her death now being recorded. But it is quite pccssible that Allonso, possessing immense wealth and iree from all public and oliiiial responsibilites, may find exile more to his taste chilli violent and sanguinary civil war, which would certainly ruin His country and could hardly end in his permanent restoration to the throne. Of course, now that the republicans have seized power, their first step must be to secure the endorsement of their acts and their policy by the nation. Everybody in Spain is looking forward to the elections which arc to be held sonic time within the next six months. In tin; meantime, the new rulers of the country do not seem inclined to commit themselves to anything but vague generalities. The new Minister of Finance contents himself with the remark that the watchwords of the new regime will he Liberty and Progress ; and he could not well say less. The Minister of National Economy ho*, gone a little further into detail with tho warning that the land may ho taken over find divided among tho peasantry. Flo has added his personal assurance that the Government will act “like gentlemen,” and that ‘'there will be compensation.” But it is hardly likely to console the royalists to learn that they may he expropriated as well as exiled. A fi a matter of fact, there is very grave apprehension that the more violent revolutionaries of the Communist type may seize the upper hand. Tt is rumoured, according to the “Morning Post,” that “Moscow is actively exploiting the Spanish revolution,” and one of the Bolshevik organs has declared that, “the Communists are mobilising 1,000,000 work, ers to fight for a Soviet Spain.” It is not likely that the Bolsheviks who have worked so hard to stir up a world revolution in India and China will overlook the chance afforded them by the upheaval, and their propaganda in Spain may produce startling developments there at any time. The part of Spain most seriously affected by the Revolution in Catalonia. The people of this province, in the north-east corner of the peninsula, have been for inanv ccnturie s famous for their love of liberty and independence. In the seventh century their land was overrun by Gothic barbarians, and during the Dark Ages Catalonia was an. outlying province of the Frankish Empire founded bv Charlemagne. These foreign influences have helped to differentiate the Catalans from the rest of the Spanish people, and throughout every stage of European history they have given signal proof of their intense local patriotism and their courageous devotion to the cause of national independence. They have constantly played a foremost part in the revolutionary movements of the past hundred years, and when the downfall of Die Throne was at last assured, the Catalans at once proclaimed their pro. vinpp a republic and asserted their right to political separation from Spain. Hannily this dangerous obstacle to national unity has been successfully surmounted. “The Catalonian demand for Homo Rule,” we are told, “lias beer settled by allowing Catalonia to adopt her own language, flag and anthem. and to elect a constituent assembly. with a Minister at Madrid.” Catalonia will thus form a more or les,, indenendent factor in the Spanish Republic, standing to it in milch the same relation ns the Dominions stand to the British Empire.