King Country Chronicle. Saturday, February 22, 1936. DESTINY OF SPAIN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4812, 22 February 1936, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Saturday, February 22, 1936. DESTINY OF SPAIN.

In a country cursed with a notoriously unstable political system it appears unlikely that the Left are going to have a clear run in Spain. Estimates of the party position are conflicting, as is inevitable with so many parties in the field, but it is assured that there has been a decided swing to the Left, or “enlightened” side of Parliament. Ever since Spain lost her colonies during and immediately after the Napoleonic wars, she has been a prey to internal differences —in fact, historians are wont to say the year 1814 ushered in “the tragedy of Spain during the nineteenth century,” and. so complicated and apparently of so small consequence were the civil wars that the more summary accounts are content to say they raged beyond the pale of civilisation. For Spain, despoiled by these internal differences, is one of the most backward countries of Europe. That-she still is cursed with a legacy of internal dissension is demonstrated by her record since King Alphonso was dethroned, and more particularly the reaction of the people to the last election. In the 1933 elections there was a great swing to the Right, now there is a marked swing to the Left, and between these two elections was a revolution. Though Senor Azana has formed a Cabinet, it seems unlikely he will find unanimity among the parties that form the Left. More than ever in the last fifteen months repeated political crises have demonstrated the instability of the Spanish political system. Six Governments followed the revolution in October, 1934. The last, headed by Senor Valladares, ascended to power in December last, but soon decided to go to the country. Three main parties emerge from the political groupings which faced electors, and of these the Left has been successful. . They are the progressive elements under an ex-Premier, Senor Azana, and include the active remnants of the Socialist Party which fared so badly as a result of the revolt in 1934, and Syndicalists, Communists and Left Republicans—all perhaps of advanced views, but whose methods differ. The election results cannot yet be fully known, as there is provision for a second ballot on March Ist, but it is certain the late Government’s calculations were very much upset. Already an attempt has been made to oust the Radicals from power by an attempted coup d’etat, apparently with the idea of setting up a dictatorship. This failed and now Spain is reported to be “generally quiet,” though clashes in various towns necessitated the reimposition of martial law, and gaol riots were still being reported. It is significant that a very strict press censorship is being imposed. The last elections are unlikely to lift Spain from her present sorry state —the tragedy of her misrule in the nineteenth century' is being re-enacted in the present century.