RIGHTS AS CITIZEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 30 December 1938, Page 2

RIGHTS AS CITIZEN

EX-KING ALFONSO LONDON, 21st December. The decree of General Franco’s Administration restoring full rights of citizenship to the former King Alfonso of Spain has aroused widespread interest in Nationalist Spain. However, it would be a mistake to attach too much political significance to it, states the special correspondent of “The Times” at Burgos, the Nationalist headquarters. ‘lt merely means,” says the writer, “that ex-King Alfonso is now entitled to return to Spain as a private citizen, if he so desires, but it is most unlikely that such a step will be considered politically wise for some time to come. 4 The Falangists (one of the parties forming the political framework of Nationalist Spain) have repeatedly declared that they would not oppose a restoration of the monarchy, and they favour ex-King Alfonso, but the Requetes, although Monarchist by conviction, would be debarred by their Traditionalist principles from accepting him, although they might accept Alfonso’s third son, the Infante Don Juan. “General Franco, in July, 1937, referred to the possibility of a restoration in favour of Don Juan, but has made no reference to the matter since j then. Any kind of restoration would be immensely popular among the Spanish aristocracy, the Roman Catholic Church, the upper ranks of the Army, and other quarters. The situation, however, remains so obscure that the only safe prophecy is that no decisive step will be taken until the more pressing problems raised by the civil war are solved “The former King at present is staying in Rome. He is reported to have wept with joy when he learned of the decree.”