SPANISH SCANDAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 December 1935, Page 12

SPANISH SCANDAL

GAMBLING PERMIT DISCLOSURES MADRID, October 29. The Spanish. Cabinet was to-day brought down by what is known as the gambling scandal. This followed a Government vote charging several high officials with corrupt practice in allowing roulette to be played in Spain in defiance of the law. It is not certain that Ministers were directly involved, but suspicion has been thrown on some of: them, including Senor Lerroux, an ex-Premier and Spain’s veteran politician. This crisis—tne 24th since the Republic was established in 1931—spells the political ruin of Senor Lerroux, and probably of the Radical party. It has strengthened the hands of those working for Fascism and a return to the monarchy. Senor Chapaprieta, the outgoing Premier, was asked by the President to form a new Government. He did so by replacing Senor Lerroux and Senor Rocha, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Education respectively, with Senor de Valasco and Senor Bardaji. It is doubtful, however, whether the Radicals, many of whom are personal friends and admirers of Senor Lerroux, will support the Government in this form. The seed of this crisis was sown in the summer of 1934, when a Dutch subject, Daniel Strauss, was attempting to introduce a game he called “Straperloo”—short for “Catch ’em alive” —into Spain. This was a roulette table with a concealed electric cap for the ball, worked by the croupier.

By claiming that it provided a game of skill rather than plain gambling, Herr Strauss persuaded the authorities into allowing the table to be exhibited at the Home Office and eventually into permitting him to try it out in San Sebastian and elsewhere. Herr Strauss is alleged to have expressed his appreciation in terms of many thousands of pounds and some gold watches for the helpful officials. He kept the bills for the watches and a large dossier of correspondence in which compromising matters are mentioned. DEMAND FOR £14,000. - Though the gambling must have netted a vast sum of money for its promoters, Herr Strauss 'demanded the return of about £14,000 expenses. Failing to recover this, he is said to have handed over the dossier of compromising evidence, including photographs of letters, permits and other documents, for a “consideration” to Senor Prieto. Socialist leader and ex-Minist-er who is being sought in connection with the October revolution of last year.

Eight prominent persons stand charged with corrupt practice, the mattei’ having been investigated by a Parliamentary Commission which expressed strong condemnation, and referred their report to the Cortes for a vote. The vote incriminated all but one. The exception is Senor Salazar Alonso, who had already resigned from the Mayoralty of Madrid. He escaped condemnation by three votes. The Governor of Catalonia, who is also Barcelona’s Mayor, was incriminated, as was Don Aurelio Lerroux. the adopted son of Senor Lerroux.