GENERAL DISCONTENT.

Shannon News, 18 March 1924, Page 4

GENERAL DISCONTENT.

The truth seems to be that a discontent, showed by army and civiliansespically including Socialists alike, has suddenly found a common platform in the indignation caused by the repetition of a Spanish set-back in Morocco. If-this be the case, the real interest of the ' position lies not so much in th immediate action of the military authorities as in that of the Spanish Socialists. The former haye the situation well an hand; it is of the first importance to note whether the latter will show themselyes disciplined enough to renounce an opportunity which may, in their opinion, have given them no small chance of realising a part, at least, of their / social programme. For behind thii-f outbreak at Barcelona —and it is difficult to believe that the place for the protest was not carefully selected —lies a chance of success for the nationalism of two northern races of Spain, the Catalonians, the Basques, and, in a much less degree, the people of Galicia. This, though included in the same category Qf denunciation by General de Rivera, must carefully be distingushed from the Socialism and Communism which for many years has found its chief home in Barcelona. So far there -s nothing to show the relations, that exist between the present outbreak aiid the national ambitions of the Catalonians, unless it be the significant fact that a simultaneous rising, took plape at Bilboa, which is the centre of tjie constant self-vindication ; of the other great. independent race of the penmsuia_the Basques. Perhaps none existed. Perhaps any relations, that might subsequently exist are .not even now fully appreciated by the military authorities who shouldered. the. responsibility for this mutiny against the Government. But it is unlikely.that such a chance of pressing traditional claims will be neglected/ and the position thus created is one that has no small interest for the student of recent internaal tendencies. It is a curious reflection that oply those which'belonged to the victorious Side in. the late war have escaped t]ie effects of the present wo rid-wide impetus towards the doctrine r of ■ self-determination that was somewhat thoughtlessly preached at the Conference of. Paris. It. is not beyond, the bounds of probability that it may ultimately be .discovered by Spain tjiat the recent unrest from which she has. suffered,. bpth in. Europe and Africa, has nop been entirely, unconnected with, her neutrality .during,.the great struggle. ,We do nati criticise, but it may be. true that, had Spain been reckoned among, the vjptors of 1918, there would have been loss inclination among

certain of her constituent races to press for their olaims to a complete or relative seperation. But it is, of course, the parallel , with Mussolini’s great stroke in Italy that is now chiefly attracting attention in England. Perhaps there is a tendency to press the paralleltoo far. We have to learn much about .the way in which the ardent syndicalists of Barcelona were handled. It may be that the Communism of the Catalan provincej was challenged and overcome by.de Rivera, before this move was organised; it may even be that in Borne manner that has still to be disclosed the army and its natural enemy the Communist party have on this occasion merely agreed to differ. In that ease a vital distinction would have to be drawn behween brusque..policy.,of. the Spanish General and that of-Mussolini,from whose dictionary the wQrd.compromise has long been erased. Such a mutual toleration .would seem as impossible in Spain as in Italy, but it is of no small significance that the actual standard of revolt should have been raised in) the home hath of Spanish Communism and of Cataian separatism. But the dominant fact of the situation is that the loyalty to the King of these protesting legions is beyond all question, and that in accepting a temorary dictatorship General de Rivera is neither' making or attempting to introduce a change in the constitution of Spain. •