HINTS OF SPANISH MONARCHIST REVIVAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22915, 6 April 1949, Page 3

HINTS OF SPANISH MONARCHIST REVIVAL

(From a Reuter Correspondent.)

MADRID. On the anniversary of the death of King Alfonso a certain amount of cautious Monarchist propaganda vetted by strict censorship has been allowed in the Spanish Press for the first time under the present regime. Falangist papers refrained from giving prominence to the occasion, and the party organ “Araibu” made no reference to it on the eve of the anniversary. The other two Madrid morning papers “ABC” and “YRU” carried extensive comments and published some pictures of King Alfonso, Don Juan and his son, the eleven year old Prince Juan Carlos. The bulk of the Falangists are known to be opposed to the idea of a Monarchist restoration which however General Franco has stated as his ultimate aim. Tribute to Alfonso

The permitted Monarchist propaganda included a broadcast by Senor Jose Maria Poman, a well-known playwright and poet and a member of the Royal Academy of Languages of which he was president until his resignation two years ago. Senor Peman paid a warm tribute to the late King Alfonso, and ended by making an appeal to the Spanish youth in favour of a Monarchy. The old Monarchist Conservative organ “ABC” was allowed to carry big frontpage pictures of King Alfonso in full military regalia and Don Juan and his son Prince Don Carlos in place of a leading article. “ABC” carried the text of Senor Peman’s broadcast. It was also allowed to print an elegiac article on King Alfonso with a picture of his tomb in Rome.

Another important Madrid daily newspaper the Catholic “YA” which has a large circulation carried a long editorial comment but was only allowed to print a picture of King Alfonso without that of his son and grandson. This newspaper paid a warm tribute to King Alfonso’s personality and remarked that the principles which inspired General Franco’s Movement constitutes “the basis and foundation for a political system which aims at safeguarding traditional institutions. Franco has built up a political system capable of preventing Spain from falling into a new era of regrettable errors.” Power in Franco’s Hands

The paper ended by remarking that the Law of Succession approved by a public referendum in 1947 revealed that Spain supports General Franco, and leaves it to him to deal with the monarchist problem in such manner as will best serve the interests of the Spanish people. This propaganda coincided with a Government sponsored report published in some newspapers to the effect that General Franco is contemplating bringing back to Spain the remains of King Alfonso, who is buried at the Montserrat Church in Rome.

It is suggested that they should return in the same cruiser in which King Alfonso left Cartagena for Marseilles on April 13, 1931, the day before the Republic was established. The cruiser which was then called Principle Alfonso was renamed Libertro by the Republican Government and finally Galicia by the Franco Government. The intention it is added, is to arrange that the remains of King Alfonso arrive in this country on April 14, the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic which deposed him. Relations Improve Although it has been the ardent desire of every Monarchist in Spain to have the remains of King Alfonso brought back for final burial in the Royal Pantheon at the Escorial Monastery, no steps to this end have been taken previously. The World War made it difficult, and relations between General Franco and King Alfonso’s son Don Juan, the present claimant to the Spanish Throne, were not friendly. Relations between the two are believed to have improved recently, particularly since Don Juan’s interview with General Franco last summer.

General Franco is trying to win over the Monarchists, who want the return of Don Juan as King, but only on the condition that General Franco relinquishes power. If, as appears likely, the Government now favours the return of King Alfonso’s remains it has yet to be seen whether his English born widow, Queen Victoria Ena and her son Don Juan as well as Don Juan supporters, will approve of the transfer at this juncture.