Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1936. SPANISH TURMOIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 19 March 1936, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1936. SPANISH TURMOIL.

The general election held in Spain fast month has been followed by a period of turmoil in which rioting and bloodshed have betrayed not only the revolutionary spirit of the Left Wing, but also its vindictiveness against the Church and its political enemies. The National and Centre Parties of the Right, aylio suffered defeat at the polls, and the Popular Parties of the Left have been described as frankly revolutionary and counter-re-volutionary, and class hatred Avas predominant throughout the campaign preceding the voting. But Avitli the victory of the Left laAvlessness has developed throughout Spain on a much larger scale. Communists and Socialists have slain their political enemies Avhenever the opportunity has arisen; men arrested and imprisoned after the Red revolt of 1934 have been liberated from prison in the general desire to break open the gaols, and at Alicante the madness of the mob led to the setting free of a colony of lepers. Martial law has been imposed in several districts, but rioting and bloodshed have not yet been rigorously put doAvn. The latest outrage perpetrated by the Communists indicates tlie serious instability of goA-ernment in Spain. At Briego the estate of President Zamora Avas seized and the land parcelled out to peasants. The estate of the President’s aunt similarly suffered, but other landowners escaped apparently more lightly, being held in custody by the Red leaders until the police restored order. The protest President Zamora is making to Cabinet on the matter shouicb at least arouse it to a sense of its responsibilities. Senor Azana, the neAV Premier, lost no . time after the election in issuing a statement - that the ucav .Government Avould not alloAV persecution, but lie has been wholly unable to control the dangerous elements among his following. Church property has been ruthlessly destroyed; 1 political enemies have been assassinated, and incalculable damage Avrouglit to treasures. Strangely enough defeat or victory causes the Reds to ,indulge in an orgy of rioting. In 1933 Avhen the Right Avon, much to the consternation of the Left, they turned to revolution and revenge, and the Government had to adopt the sternest measures to bring peace. But the revolt never fully died doAvn and unrest simmered. Shortly before the election Senor Caballero, knoivn as the “Spanish Lenin,” threatened another revolution Avorse than that of 1934 if the Right Avon, and the Socialists openly threatened violence if they did not succeed. But victory has been accompanied Avith the

violence of ruffians and Spain is the Avitness of deeds that send a thrill of horror and cause disgust throughout the rest of the Avorid. The Premier has found it necessary to continue the state of alarm for another month, but this measure has entirely failed to bring peace betAA'een political opponents. He must be very much embarrassed by the excesses committed in the name of his parties. It is very clear that he cannot control his extremists, and that Spain is fated to suffer further turmoil before peaceful conditions are restored. Catalonia has again received a measure of autonomy Avithin the the nation, but as a commentator points out there are provincial divisions which perpetually embarrass leaders and prevent Spain from being one country in the sense in Avliich Prance or Italy is one. The programme Senor Azana Avill place before Parliament is belieAred to openly support confiscation, and this must add to the conflict betAveen the opposing forces.