Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, SEPT. 13, 1932. CATALONIAN HOME RULE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 243, 13 September 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, SEPT. 13, 1932. CATALONIAN HOME RULE.

Ttie question o£ Catalonia’s status under the Constitution of the Spanish Republic has been determined by the Cortes passing - a Bill “conferring - a generous measure of home rule." It is not to be supposed that this enactment will give satisfaction to all the parties concerned in this very serious problem. The main point is that Spanish unity is not to be impaired. With the abdication of Xing Alfonso and the establishment of a Republic nearly eighteen months ago, the Catalans lost no time in seeking severance from Spain by the creation of a separate State. A plebiscite taken in Catalonia resulted in a declaration in favour of complete autonomy, and there were wild scenes of rejoicing in Barcelona, the principal centre of the ancient principality, when the verdict was declared. General Macia, the Catalonian leader, lias since been referred to as “President," and he has claimed more than once that Catalonia has de facto autonomy. He does not, however, according to his public statements,, go so far as the separatist faction. He has no desire to dissolve all connection with the rest of Spain, but has expressed the wish for an integ - ral and completely autonomous State within the Spanish Federation. Catalonia’s first existence as a separate entity dates back to the reign of Charlemagne. In 801 a.d. the city of Barcelona was taken on that Sovereign’s behalf, but with the subsequent revolt of the Count of Barcelona against Charlemagne Catalonia became a separate State of Spain, a condition which lasted from the beginning of the ninth century until 1479, when it was incorporated in the Monarchy with the union of Castile and Catalonia under Ferdinand and Isabella. “This," remarks a commentator, “was the beginning of Spain’s greatness as a nation.” The strong national spirit among the Catalonian people has survived to this day. They also have preserved their own speech, costumes and habits, and it was not to be wondered at that, with the declaration of a Republic in Spain, they would seek autonomy for themselves. The more moderate type like General Macia have no desire for separation, but a measure of autonomy sufficient to grant the use of the term “State." Their opponents, however, have considered this impossible, as under the Constitution Spain is an integral State.

Some time ago it was announced that the Republic had conceded to the Catalonians the right to use their own language, flag, national anthem, and to govern their provinces of Barcelona, Lerida, Gerona, and Tarragona, on condition that the authority of Madrid was recognised

and taxes were remitted to the Central Government. The extremists, however, maintained their stubborn opposition, and the question of Catalonia was, with land reform, given precedence on the legislative programme when the Cortes assembled in April. By June the first article of the Catalonian Statute had been passed—“ Catalonia is created an autonomous region within the Spanish State." A fortnight later the second article received the Deputies’ endorsement by 191 votes to 112. It provides for the equality of the Catalan tongue in Catalonia with Castilian which, under the Constitution, is the official Spanish language. The first article was opposed by only 12 votes, though many deputies preferred to bo absent when the division was taken, but the second, as the voting shows, created a sharp diversity of opinion. The Government, however, it is recorded, held to its policy of Catalan autonomy with the guarantee of Spanish unity, the Prime Minister stating publicly that he would leave the Government before modifying his stand. So the debates in the Cortes have continued until the Bill has been passed. The cablegram says it is a generous measure of home rule, but it is not likely to placate the extreme Catalonians. The Government, on the other hand, could not risk a crisis so early in the Republic’s career, and possibly has granted more than it otherwise would. The task of reconciling the different views has been impossible, and no doubt moderate Catalonian opinion will favour the measure. Its passag - e throug-li the Cortes will be of great interest to the Basques, who have drafted a statute for an autonomous State to be called Euskelerria. Like that of Catalonia, a commentator observes, the Basque statute calls for considerably more independence than the Madrid Nationalists are disposed to grant.