GRAVE CRISIS IN SPAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19417, 27 August 1926, Page 11

GRAVE CRISIS IN SPAIN.

KING AND BE RIVERA. REFUSAL TO SIGN DECREE. ARTILLERY CORPS* DEMAND. PRIME MINISTER UNPOPULAR. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Aug. 26. The Bayonne correspondent of the Daily Telegraph reports that a serious situation has been created by an artillery co.'ps sending King Alfonso a document demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, General Primo De Rivera. In consequence of this action General de Rivera drew up a decree dissolving the corps and placing the arms and munition factories at Toledo and Trubia u.ider the control of civilian engineers. King Alfonso has refused to sign the decree, however. It is feared that grave developments may ensuo Notwithstanding the fact that General Primo de Rivera presides over a Cabinet of military men and civilians, which he formed in December, 1925, he was for a considerable period before that Spain's Dictator as President of the Military Directory. Ho followed the example of Mussolini and made laws of the Fascist type. Then, scenting trouble and the prospect of the King asking Admiral Magaz to form a Government, he transformed his Directory and averted, probably by a few hours, his supersession by a Magaz Government. The Directory, which consisted entirely of generals, was made into a Cabinet, of which he was Premier, with three generals and five docile civilians. Parliament was still out of commission and the constitution suspended. The general declared his intention of continuing his civil dictatorship for three years until normal conditions have been restored. His coup, unlike that of Mussolini, was not backed by a party. In February, 1926, a bomb was placed on tha line near Barcelona but exploded just' before his train passed. More recently a dagger was thrown at him while he was driving in the streets of the same city. Early in July a conspiracy, in which numerous officers were said to have been implicated, for the restoration of constitutional rights was discovered' in Madrid.' An official communique on the conspiracy was issued. This stated that a small number of persons, blinded by passion and ambition, had been endeavouring for some weeks to organise a plot based on the complaint that time was passing without the restoration of constitutional liberties. They forget, continued the communique, the deprivation of liberties which existed before September 13, 1923, when, besides terrorism, separatism and impiety, many other evils abounded. The immense majority of Spaniards do not agree with these men. They prefer the present l'egime, and call, moreover, for severity toward those who would cause trouble to the nation in its hour of reconstruction. The police have discovered documentary evidence of this absurd plot. The Government has decided to show the greatest energy, even if only on this occasion, as matters were exceeding the bounds of caricature in clandestine sheets and conspiracy. The conspirators form a grotesque collection, being a group of Syndicalists, Republicans, anarchist intellectuals and a few others who, by reason of their age and position, are strangely out of place in such company, in addition to a dozen discontented officers, the exception among their class. The Government from tho beginning has limited its action to calling, 'when necessary, upon the local authorities to do their duty without exceptional measures. The Government has confidence in the nation and the Army. The conspirators have found no support from the public. The Courts will proceed against them and the public will be informed of . their punishment in duo course. Now that King Alfonso has crossed de Rivera it will be interesting to note what action the virtual " master of Spain " takes. A writer in the Daily Mail recently ga,ve an interesting sketch of the man. He said: "He loves Spain, and believes that patriotism is the natural religion of honest men. For the politician who uses patriotism to feather his own nest, Primo's contempt is deep but not explosive. For the politician who gets drunk with the doctrines of Liberalism and never stops talking about ideas, he has an amused disdain. But for the politician who traffics in sedition he has an anger which can express itself only in action. " Ho seized power in order to deliver Spain from the robbery of corrupt politicians, from the wasteful oratory of incompetent politicians, and from the danger of tolerated and traitorous politicians. In a moment of time he dismissed the robbers, silenced the talkers, and clapped the traitors into prison. Only toward t'he traitors ihas be shown the sternness of his character. " His revolution was the revolution of a good-natured man who is determined to save his country from ruin, but with as little fuss and disturbance as possible. Everyone in Spain knows that he is not a Mussolini and that he does not set himself up as an inspired leader of mankind. He is known to find distraction from work in the excitement of gambling, and to enjoy the pleasures of the table with a zest that would pale the cheeks of a dyspeptic, Never will the Spanish nation, which is a sentimental and romantic nation, acclaim him as a hero or follow at his heels singing the Hymn .of Riego. The cynics of Madrid and Barcelona accept him as a pro tempore policeman. whose career it is amusing to watch; the more responsible citizens are anxiously considering what is to come after him; and only the rich and powerful Church wishes him to stay where he is. Even the military party are not yet perfectly satisfied that he is their man, which makes it difficult for > him always to act as he wishes to act."