TURNING TO LEFT?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 253, 24 October 1936, Page 8

TURNING TO LEFT?

TENDENCY IN ENGLAND

WHAT EX-KING ALFONSO THINKS.

(By CESAR G. RUAInO.) "There are two countries in Europe which are turning to the Left, France and England," said ex-King Alfonso XIIT. of Spain in an exclusive interview granted this writer. "English politics are the most sublimely confused in the world. It is a formidable exertion to try to understand them. Now they are going Left— a very English Left, very special, where the word 'revolution' has another name — 'evolution.'" "Does Your Majesty feel that the result of the French elections will have a decisive influence upon the orientation of Spanish politics?" lie was asked. "I believe exactly the opposite. Spanish developments are making themselves felt in France. The French Press, almost in its entirety, uses the 'Spanish experience' of these last months to endeavour to save its country from the excesses of the extreme Left, which follows the plans of Moscow." The former monarch talked at ease in his apartment in the Grand Hotel, where he moved some time ago after leaving the villa "Titta Ruffo," which was his residence ill the outskirts of Rome. He lives there with his son, the Infante Don Jaime. Don Alfonso has a large living room, a dining room and a bedroom. The living room, where he received the reporter, is soberly furnished. There is a low Japanese lacquered table in the centre of the room, and a cigarette box with the Royal Arms Hes there. The deposed ruler is generally seen at the lobby of the hotel after 10 p.m., usually with his son and the Marquess of Torres, Alfonso's secretary. The small group dines in the apartment, and afterdinner talk lasts generally about an hour. Soon afterward the King calls for his customary wliisky and soda and retires early. Cautious in Opinion. We found Don Alfonso in the lobby, talking to the Duchess of La Victoria, who came specially to Rome to be present at the baptism of the former King's first grandchild, the infant son of the Duke of Segovia. "You know," he said, in reply to our request for an interview, "that I systematically refuse to speak for the newspapers. It is always risky for me to do it, and specially so in these days, as what I say may be interpreted wrongly or maliciously twisted—you know." But he finally consented t-o be quoted, after setting certain conditions. He invited the writer to his apartment and affably offered him a cigarette. "With what words could I speak now of conditions in Spain?" he replied to a question. "I am perfectly aware of the fact that if I point out the atrocities of the Leftists, I shall be accused of defaming them from the outside, as I cannot prove the facts from within Spain. Imagine that, on the other hand, making an effort to be impartial and objective, I find something done by the Leftists reasonable or justifiable. That would be like throwing cold water on the Rightists, who are putting to a hard trial all the resistance of their nnral values, of their love for their country."

"And what is Your Majesty's attitude before the situation in Spain? Your Majesty's attitude in general after leaving Spain and in consequence of what happened there ?" Without a moment's hesitation, Don Alfonso replied, "You can sav that I told you, without beating about the biish that Alfonso XIII. its always at the disposal of Spain. That he neither intrigues nor hopes nor suspects, but simply waits. If I were called to my post I would accept, because now more than ever it is a place of honour, being one that calls for sacrifices." The ex-ruler is silent for a moment, and shows some emotion. The Roman breeze conies through the open window and unfurls a Spanish bi-colour flag 011 the working desk of the former King. "What kind of life does Your Majesty lead in Rome?" "As quiet as you can imagine. I read very much. I have read in a relatively short time more than in all the rest of ir.v life; more, perhaps, than many a passionate reader reads. I rise at about nine, attend to my mail with the aid of my secretaries, and then read the foreign newspuncrs. At noon I read the Spanish papers.-' Praise for Portugal.

"Docs Your Majesty read many Spanish [newspapers?" "Almost all of them. In Spain I was a subscriber to 'El Socialista' and 'La Tierra' (Leftist organs). I have to do it. My duty is to keep informed of everything. I lunch at the hotel almost always, then work and read in the afternoon. At about five or six I indulge in a little frivolity and go to the Casino to plav bridge." When the reporter asked him his opinion of the regimes in Germany and Italy, he said: "Public order in Italy and in Germany is perfect; the authority of the State has saved those countries. No doubt about it. But there is another Fascist regime, dictatorial and soft at the Game time, to which the world pays very little attention and does not do the justice it deserves —Portugal's. Apparently obscure, but really modest and self-effacing. Oliveira Salazar (the Portuguese ruler) is, in my opinion, an admirable figure. He does everything without making a show of himself."

The writer has to cut his interview short, for somebody else is waiting to be received by the ex-King. He is a Spanish missionary, an old and tall man with a long, grey beard, who left Spain when almost a child and went to tjie Orient to preach. He has spent thirty years in China and now, passing through Rome, came to request an audience to pay his respects to the King. "Come and see me again," says Don Alfonso, rising. "In these last few days I have been busier than usual owing to the baptism of my grandson. A few Spaniards came to see him, although we did not tell aflybody about it. I feei that when one is in mourning these things should be done without ostentation. And at present all of us Spaniards who really love Spain are in mourning, don't you think?" — (X.A.X.A.)