The Young King of Spain.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 28, 10 July 1902, Page 17

The Young King of Spain.

The young 1 Alfonso XIII. cornea to the throne of Spain armed with every educational advantage that can grace his royal station. He attained his constitutional majority at Bixteen years of age on May 17, and he ha^ been most carefully taught and trained even from infancy. Though he has the slender frame and delioate appearance so frequent ainon.* princea of the House of Hapsburg, yet he is not so delicate as h9 appears to be, and has so far shown no eigaa of the diaeasj that earned off hia father at the early age of twenty-eight. The youthful King succeeds to a heavy load of national troubles. The Carlist movement, the disastrous war in Cub:v, and the spread of Republicanism have weakened Spain of late years, and troubles in the succession must arise unless a direct heir is born to the throae. For many years Alfonso XIII. must realise ho # uneasy lies the he^d that wears a crown. Yet Spain is far from dead. Though vauquishei with ease by the United States, she still plays an important part in the royal game of diplomacy. The importance comsa from her position on the Mediterranean. And, strange to <=ay, it is the iutrin-iically insignificant country of Morocco that is the key of the position, So long as Morocco is independent, no first class Power can establish fortification? along the Mediterranean, ani so menace Spain. On this point the interests of Britain and Spain .ire iJ mtica!. for such an eventuality would weaken the importance of Gibraltar. Considerable uneasiness ha? recently been displayed by thy SpmHh G-jvernmant with regard to the growing friendline-n ( b3t>ve3n Britain anl Portugal, whioh in turn throws Borne light ou our remarks lisL weik touching on Mr Seddon's econtnM lition-j about Djligoi Biy. As a matter of fact, the diplomatic relations of the l\nvjrd are nearly always as fragile as a house of c vrds, which a br2ith may wreck. Into this arena the young Xi i<jf ha? com 3. He has capable advisers, and the country is showing -signs of the poddjudioa of unsuspected resources. Under wise goveriiinent. 'Sp lin may yet regain a position worthy of her history.