STALEMATE IN SPAIN

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4810, 18 February 1936, Page 5

STALEMATE IN SPAIN

AMAZING ELECTION SCENES CIVIL WAR FEARED. CENTRE HOLDS BALANCE OF POWER. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 12 Noon.) Madrid, February 17. Both sides claim a victory in the Spanish elections, but the most probable result appears to be a stalemate, with the recently formed Centre Party holding the balance of power. The latest figures indicate that the Right have won 240 seats, and the Left2oo, with 50 still undecided. Senor Portela Walladares, leader of the Centre Party is thus likely to be the dominating figure in the new Parliament. No doubt the Left attained a handsome victory in Madrid and are also overwhelmingly ahead in Catalonia. The Government is taking stringent precautions to withhold sensational news, fearing disturbances, especially in view of the rumour that the Left parties intend to start a revolution if they are defeated^ The Left majority in Catalonia and the election of the ardent separationist, Senor Companzo, who is at present imprisoned, led to the resignation of the Governor, who considers the vote a demonstration that Catalonia will insist on full autonomy. The Government declared a state of "alarm" throughout Spain as a prelude to martial law, which the Premier is empowered to declare whenever necessary. Crowds which demonstrated in favour of the release of the thousands who were imprisoned after the abortive revolt in. 1934, clashed with the police, and one was killed and four were injured. Amazing, scenes were witnessed at Puertadelsol, where vast numbers of Communists assembled, - singing the "Internationale." A squadron of mounted police refused to obey the order to charge the crowd, which pulled them off their horses and carried them shoulder high. Nine hundred inmates of the prison at Cartagena mutinied, killed awarder and set fire to the buildings. Two who were former members of the Government, vainly endeavoured to persuade their fellow prisoners not to attempt to escape. Cabinet met at noon and announced that the Left parties had obtained a majority in the election.