AFFAIRS IN SPAIN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 July 1925, Page 10

AFFAIRS IN SPAIN.

MOROCCAN CAM RifiGN

BUSINESS PROSPECTS UNICa YOURA.tu.it.

Prime de Bivera’s visit to Spain for the Holy Ween festivities was eonlined to Malaga, unci lie has now, returned to Morocco, in an interview he stated he would not return for good to the Peninsula before August. “By then,” he said, "the news that we have accomplished wnat we set out to do will nave appeared. instead ot hammering incessantly at tne enemy without -shaking hint, we shall liiiisli him with one big blow.” Thp.se enigmatic words are, in some quarters, taken to mean that tne orten-mooted pLan of disembarkation in Alhucemas Bay wiil take place, and that the Spanish troops- are going to striae at Abd-eJ-Krim’s headquarters, hitherto immune. There is naturally much difference of opinion about the feasibility of the operation, but it' would be popular with the Moroccan army. The recent successful landing at Aloazzar Segue nil may be a rehearsal of the more complicated task ahead of the army at Alhucemas. Alarm at th© increase of unemployment resulting from trade depression, which snows no sign of lightening,_ has penetrated to the councils of the Directorate, and public works are, consequently, to be provided and expedited ror the absorption of the workless. The Directorate is also concerned with the state of the budget, which is admitted to be in a poor way owing to the large emissions of Treasury bonds and to the supplementary estimates for Morocco.

The country is faced by an increase in taxation under the new provincial statute. Madrid is none too hopeful about the business future, and enemies of the Directorate are not slow to lay most of the present evils at its door. A curious and characteristic example of this lies in the present discussion of the “theatre crisis.” Th© absence of any official and parliamentary life in Madrid, with the ensuing lack of business and political visitors from the provinces (the most apparent part ol the' Directorate’s labours) is one of the' chief causes of the theatre’s sufferings, according to many.

To these causes an impartial observer might arid : Too many theatres, too many performances, excessive taxation, heavy rentals elue to middlemen, high cost of seats, and —above allvery poor plays. One or two big business smashes within the last year or so, show clearly that Spain is still liviiicr be von el its income.

The lmtr provinces of Catalonia have agreed to form a ma.ncomunidacl once more, but within the limitations of the new statute, and subject to the royal approval The new lmmcomunklnd would be, of course, but the shadow of it s predecessor, from which were directed most of the organisations of the Nationalist movement.