FRENCH "INVASION."

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 9

FRENCH "INVASION."

Denounced in First Democratic Election in Andorra. POLLING IN TINY STATE. (Received 11.30 a.m.) ANDORRA, September 1. The first democratic election under universal suffrage repudiated joint control by the Spanish Bishop of Urgel and the French President. Thirteen supporters of the old Council-General were elected, five favouring the co-princes (Bishop of Urgel and the President of France), and six being "neutral." All the candidates denounced the French "invasion" of Andorra. The commandant of the French gendarmes, who form an "invading army," declares that he will not withdraw till a responsible Government is actually in power. The election was fought on the issue of the independence of the Republic versus control by the co-princes. Both sides claim the victory. A strike at the waterworks will be settled and the position will be clarified when the new Council-General meets on Sunday next. Few persons troubled to vote, despite the novelty of general suffrage for adults over 25, many of whom were enrolled under nicknames, because their real names were unknown. Soup tureens and tin cans were used as ballot-boxes. The police restored order after a bout of fisticuffs owing to a non-resident priest and ex-members of the Government endeavouring to record their votes.

Since 1278, Andorra, one of the smallest States of Europe— ite 5230 people nestling in 191 square miles of the Pyrenees—has been under the joipt suzerainty of the head of the French State and the Biahop of Urgel, in Spain, to whom were payable the sums of £11 1/ and £5 6/ a year. A "revolution" occurred earlier last month, whereby the people's demand for a new constitution was promptly granted, halving the tributary payments and granting rule by a Parliament instead of the former Council General of 24 (elected by the beads of families), whose decision was frequently vetoed by the dual absolute rulers. This Parliament, or Council General, forbidden to meet by the French poljce, met in secret on August 30 at Barcelona, and it wag then decided to protest to the League of Nations against the French "invasion" of Andorra as a breach of the Kellogg Peace Pact.