THE NEW SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 October 1931, Page 3

THE NEW SPAIN

STATE AND CHURCH PREMIER INTERVIEWED [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received October 29, Noon). LONDON, October 28. After the amazing events of last fortnight, it is' over early yet to assess the extent of the cleavage in the Spanish Republic’s previously solid ranks over the religious question which led to Premier Zamora’s resignation. He had said that the Catholics, only when in dire distress, were willing to agree to liberty of religious conscience, to ensure it for themselves, but even though they abused the privileges, it was no reason to deprive them of their essential rights. Zamora counselled some provision to keep up the Church’s immense artistic and ‘cultural treasure, and the preservation of the concordat, but severe regulation of religious orders, but the Cortes decided there should not be a State religion. Nevertheless, there seemed a prospect of the Religious Provisions in the Constitution being amended in the direction of Zamora’s plea, but retaining the power to disband religious orders, whose activities endangered the State.

However, the whole atmosphere changed on October 13, as the result of the intervention of the War Minister, Azana, who detected signs of wavering towards a compromise. Azana, hitherto silent, made an impassioned address, declaring that Spain must cease to be“Uatholic. It was superfluous to argue what Spain owed to Catholicism. The tendency of Spanish culture whs no longer religious. The State should be transformed to conform with the new manifestation of public spirit. The Church already indemnified itself by the accumulation of huge riches. At the present dramatic moment, the interests of the Republic conflicted with liberty of conscience, so the latter must go to ensure the State’s sovereignity and security. It would be UK? a surgical operation, without an anaesthetic. The patient's writhings might, make the operation mortal for one of the parties; he could not say which. Finally, he demanded that all the religious Orders be deprived of the right to teach. This, lie said, sounded il-liberal, but was absolutely essential.

This speech Instantly rallied the Socialists and Radical Socialists, who though they wanted to expel all the religious Orders, carried Azana’s amendment on the lines of the speech, but limiting the expulsion to Jesuits, and nationalisation of their property, also providing for an extension of the clergy budget within two years. Zamora resigned the same night, and Azana was installed as Premier. Tho Cortes, next day, halved the clergy stipends, whereupon some Orders, in face of earlier decisions, prepared immediately to close the schools. The Cabinet promptly decreed no closing under penalty of State seizure.

Prohibition of processions was the next decision, but speedily modified, not to include the Seville festivities. The final act was the introduction of divorce in Spain. The upshot of these reforms was a strong Catholic protest against sectarian intolerance and religious persecution. The Basques and other northerners are showing signs of revolt against the decrees, but these have hot yet crystallised. With these distractions lulled down, Premier Azana is turning to reconstructive measures. In a special interview, he told the Australian Press representative at Madrid, that the first act of the new Government would be the urgent triple task of obtaining a favourable vote on the new constitution, then an agrarian law, and passing the Budget. Negotiations are now proceeding between the conflicting elements, which should make the Constitution durable. Within its framework, the different Spanish regions had plenty of scope for developing their respective personalities, and had hoped to achieve a fair distribution of provincial lands and overcome the lack of work. New taxes were being planned to balance the Budget, and neutralise the waste during the Dictatorship regime. Both the War and Navy Departments were being cut down. He was firmly determined to maintain public order.

The opinion was expressed that the mere existence of the new Defence of the Republic Law was sufficient to paralyse the Extremists. There was nothing to fear from the Royalists, or for that matter the Reds. The Government were anxious to avert riots and disturbances by utilising, the new tribunals. "Our only aim is reconstruction, and medium hard work, in freedom and peace,” the Premier concluded.