Grey River Argus MONDAY, October 8, 1934. THE UNREST IN SPAIN.

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1934, Page 4

Grey River Argus MONDAY, October 8, 1934. THE UNREST IN SPAIN.

Sinee a republic ivas three and a-lialf years ago proclaimed, Spain lias encountered recurring .strife, the present unrest recalling that which followed the defeat of the Leftist Administration last election, ami that last April when there resigned the -Ministry of Alejandro Lerroux. leader of the f’abiuet now. From the press cables, it is clear that the northern Spanish—Catalans, Basques and Asturians— are the chief opponents of the new minis, try. but it is not to be inferred that syndicalist and anarch.st forces alone are hostile. External, as well as economic and religious influences bear on the situation, while the new ministry probably faces more Socialist hostility than Lerroux formerly did when Anarchists and Syndicalists were fighting the constitutional trad, unions. although so much is not clear. Last April there was a conflict between the Right afid Left over the Amnesty Bill, which the Cortes passed, when Francisco L. Caballero, a Socialist leader, declared his followers must seize power by means of a revolution. The Bill he was opposing 'allowed freedom to many political prisoners and exiles, although some of the Anarchists were not then liberated, but some hundreds were. President Zamora was himself averse to the Bill, and stated his objections in ratifying it,

whereupon the Prime Minister, Senor Lerroux resigned with his Cabinet. Simultaneously many strikes were declared, and the Leftists objecting to the Catholics organising a youth league, set eight churches afire. Zamora refused a strong demand to reappoint Lerroux as Premier, choosing Senor Riccardo Ibanez, a lawyer and ex-Mayor of Valencia in which there is a pronounced Leftist element. Ibanez, however, selected nearly all the old Ministers, and his reign was brief. Five months ago Senor Samper replaced him as Premier, and it is largely due to the failure of his Ministry in handling the rural ques- I lion (hat the trouble in the north

now so evident. The leader of the Catholic Party, the largest in Parliament, Senor Gil Rabies, ended the term of the Samper Ministry the other day when he condemned its bungling of the Catalan and Basque problems. In Catalonia the outstanding question is not the radical temper for which Barcelona is noted, but the breaking up of large estates. The Basques are a people apart, not indeed identical racially with the Spanish. but having some of their aflirmily mi the other side of the Pyrenees. As for the rising in Asturias, in the north-west, where many miners and other workers

are evidently involved, the explanation is probably that they regard Lerroux as leaning too far to the Right, and as apt to be tolerant toward a possible Fascist, not to say a Monarchist development. However, the centre of opposition to the Conservative Agrarian Party is Catalonia, and there it is where the present

movement has developed the most force. A separate republic has been proclaimed, ami, while the Premier is quoted as saying Catalonia might please itself, both military and naval forces have been sent thither, and tiirthing is reported in progress. The Basques have likewise taken separatist action, but it will not be of such influence as that of Catalonia, where in April last 150.000 engaged in a demonstration at the capital against the Agrarian

Party, who may be identified with the larger land owners. The Leftists declare that Robles is Fascist, although he has. on his part, declared himself and his party alike for the Republic. It is doubtful, therefore, whether ex-King Alfonso allayed such a suspicion among opponents of Robles’ party the other day when he sent to the Spanish people a declaration of his willingness to fight the elements who were, he said, trying to bring the country to ruin. Lwroux is himself a Radical, who indeed was a member of the first Republican Provincial Government, and the reason why the Leftists now oppose him is

doubtless because of the fact that his Government is supported by

the Catholic and Conservative members of the Cortes. The Socialist, Anarchist and Syndicalist political argument is that the Cortes is not Republican, and that explains why they have for months past been secretly arming to seek a military instead of a constitutional decision. They would doubtless contend that otherwise the outcome would be a gradual reversion to something of a Fascist regime. Assuming, however, that the Government is

correct in its claim that it ean defend itself, it will remain to be seen if Robles is for Fascism, or rather, for a solution of the rural problem along the lines of distribution as opposed to land monopoly. On the other hand. Catalonia may succeed in cutting the painter. The outlook is uncertain, but it would appear from the lest elections, that the present un. vest is attributable to a minority rather than a majority of the people, so that the existing regime is likely to remain.