SITUATION IN SPAIN

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 147, 19 December 1930, Page 11

SITUATION IN SPAIN

STRIKE IN FULL SWING PURELY POLITICAL

LONDON, /17th December. The "Daily Mail's" Madrid correspondent understands that Portugal has refused to hand over Commandant Franco, leader of the revolt in Spain, but has promised to keep him and his companions under surveillance, and expel them to England or Holland. The Madrid correspondent of "The Times," reviewing the situation, says that obviously the military side of the movement- lacikg conviction. The senior officers are trustworthy, but the juniors are large-ly Republican, while the rank and file are divided. The conscripts are as reliable as are conscripts anywhere, but there is a class of soldier who pay the Government for the choice as to1 where they are to be stationed, thus creating a privileged and influential yeomanry, interested in polities. Many of these are Republicans. The strike is no«v in full swing, but is being conducted in calm and good humour. Transport workers are not involved, and reserviists are staffing the railways. King Alfonso inspected tho Artillery Engineers at a Carabanchel camp and extolled their softdieriy discipline. The Bank of Spain: lias opened a national subscription for a testimonial to tho Civic Guard. Tho Minister of the Interior, Don Severiano Anido, hag . admitted that the agitation affects 23 :to 50 provinces, while_ there are general strikes in the principal towns in ten provinces. These are purely political.