THE SPANIARDS

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3234, 7 May 1917, Page 1

THE SPANIARDS

ANNOYED, BUT AFItAID

(Published in tho London Times.) London, April 9. Tho Times correspondent at Madrid telegraphs to-day that tho political crisis duo to submarine warfare is acute. Tho defection of Signor Villauueva (President of tho Chamber of Deputies) and Signor Alhucemas (President of tho Sonate) reflects the sudden alarm of tho public at tho suggestion that Spain should intervene in the war. Tho Conservatives threaten political upheaval if aieutralify is abandoned. Jving Alfonso has had long audiences with leading politicians. The average Spaniard has shown 'himself definitely, sincerely, and incurably neutral. Ho thinks that Germany is not likely to bo so badly beaten as to bo unable to take economic and political reprisals after the war. Mr. Hamilton Fyfe, special correspondent of tho Daily Mail at Madrid, writes that although tho sinking of badly-nwded coal ships has exasperated tho Spaniards, no party now proposes intervention. Even tho proAlly Progressives do not believe that Spain would be able efficiently to help in a military sense. They also fear the result of internal dissension. Workmen's associations are preparing a revolutionary strike, because they resent tho Government's recent inauguration of military despotism.

Continued sinkings of vessels by submarines will compel many industries to cense operations, and will thus intensify the sufferings of the poor, and precipitate a crisis. Disastrous troubles are endangering the monarchy. Some Spaniards think tho troubles are duo to German agents, who ar<; endeavouring to force King Alfonso to make fresh peace proposals. They arc not likely to succeed. Alfonso knows that the Allies are resolute against peace until the Hohenzollei'n world-danger is averted.