COURSE OF EVENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1931, Page 11

COURSE OF EVENTS

RALLY OF ROYALISTS

ROMANONES TO FORE

MADBID, ISth February. Although Senor Sanchez Guerra haf declined to form a Government, it now seems likely that a Monarchist Cabinet will arise out of the confusion at present existing. This means that the position, of King Alfonso, which up to the present has been insecure, may li« restored. To-day, however, the situation became more clarified. Fortified with supplies, of food ia readiness for a night-long sitting in. Madrid, the Monarchist leaders, including General Berenguer, who presided, the Duke of Maura, Count' Bomanones,, and Senors Garcia, Pricto, and La Cierva assembled in the early evening at the War Ministry. After a sitting lasting five hours, General Berenguer -being unwell, Senor Wais, as senior Minister, went to the Palace to report to King Alfonso. Senor Prieto stated that all present had decided to place themselves at the disposal of the Bang. No Government was formed, but the members' conference offered its services. should His Majesty care to accept them. Count Bomanones said that not all the members of the conference would be members of- the new Cabinet. He could only say that to-morrow there would be a new Government. "We shall meet again at the War Ministry and settle matters." EARLIER EXPECTATIONS. It is thought probable that General Berenguer will be the Prime Minister, and it is expected that Count Eomanones will be a member of the Cabinet. It had been intended to give the Premiership to Senor La Cierva, but the plan was abandoned because it was understood that tho workers would have called a general strike, orders for which, it is believed, already had been given. It is thought that the end of the crisis is now in sight, and a list of the new Cabinet is ready for presentation to King Alfonso. Count Bomanones said that it waa practically certain that the Cabinet would be sworn in later to-day. It is said that the members of the conference decided to call a constituent assembly to revise the constitution without limiting the powers of King Alfonso as stringently as was previously proposed. Admiral Aznar is likely to be Premier if General Berenguer is unwilling or is not chosen. , QUEEN ENA RETURNS. King Alfonso sprang another surprise by meeting Queeu Ena- at tho station.' About 500 people, mostly highly placed, awaited tho Queen on the platform. The King's arrival in morning dress, accompanied by his two daughters, waa entirely unexpected, and created wild excitement. Alfonso smiled and waved his silk hat to the crowd. When he saw Queen Ena, who was on tho verge, of tears, he took her in his arms and hugged and kissed' her. By a strange contrast, not more than twenty persons were in the station courtyard, but as they drove unescorted through, the streets to the Palace, thousands of people cheered Their Majesties, who came out on the balcony; and acknowledged the continued applause. AUTHORITIES ALERT. According to a London message the "Manchester Guardian's" Bordeaux correspondent states that an artillery regiment at Jetafe, near Madrid, rose and the mutineers. placed guns and shells on tho road to the capital, the guns pointing at the Palace; The revolutionaries, making a common cause with the inhabitants of tHa lower quarters of Madrid, blocked the roads to Jetafe. Tho authorities are taking drastic precautions, and are placing civil guards at strategic points lest* the movement should spread to other garrisons. Jetafo itself ,appears to bo calm, and the Madrid revolutionary, committee has adjourned the strike.