SCENES IN SPAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 11

SCENES IN SPAIN.

COUNTRY MAINLY QUIET.

RUN ON SAVINGS BANK.

KING'S PROPERTY SAFE. By Tclccrn ph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received April 17, 9.15 p.m.) MADRID. April 10. .Noisy and hilarious crowds continue to perambulate the streets., 1 lie first hull tight under the new regime drew a crowd of workers, but the aristocrats were absent. The matadors and picadors saluted in front of the empty Royal box, which was draped 'in the Republican colours.

A number of wealthy customers demanded that the banks should transfer their deposits abroad, but the Government countered the move by issuing a decree forbidding it. There were also riotous scenes at the State Savings Bank, where thousands of depositors attempted to break down the closed doors in consequence of a report that there were insufficient funds to meet the liabilities.

The personal property of King Alfonso, whose fortune is estimated at £2,000,000, will be safeguarded and handed over to the person whom he designates. ..

Martial law has been declared in Seville owing to the Communists having attacked the Civil Guards' barracks. Troops fired a volley and drove the attackers off. Elsewhere there is quiet, except that a mob razed the Fascist and Labour offices in Madrid, and set fire to the furnituro because the Republican flag had been removed. The mobs everywhere are destroying the Royal coat of arms. The authorities as a precaution have scaled up the Royal palace. A mob fired warehouses in Malaga. Native troops fired on a crowd of demonstrators at Tetouan, and two persons were wounded.

Major Franco, the airman who fled from Spain after the abortive revolt at Jaca, is due in Madrid this evening; He will take charge of the military aviation departments.

Spain has had prior experience of a republic. Queen Isabella was expelled in 1868, after reigning from 1843, and after a disturbed interval, including the weak reign of Amadeo of Savoy, 1870-73, who resigned, a republic was formed. Spain was largely in anarchy, and various parts of the country acted independently. It was realised that the return of the Bourbons was the only way to secure unity, and on December 30. 1874, General Campes caused Alfonso de Bourbon, son of Queen Isabella, to be proclaimed King, as Alfonso XIT. He entered Madrid in January 1875. The now-exiled King, Alfonso XIII., is his son by his second marriage, to Princess Marie Christina of Austria.

STATE OF CATALONIA.

OWN GOVERNMENT FORMED. AGREEMENT WITH MADRID. (Received April 17, 9.5 p.tn.) Timeß Cable. LONDON April 16. The Madrid correspondent of the Times states that the new Government's gravest preoccupation is Catalonia, where General Macia, formerly the separatist leader, lias proclaimed a republic and appointed his own Government. General Macia controls the situation, and insists that his dealings with Madrid shall be those of one Power with another. There is no trace' of meekness in the attitude of Catalonia, which will demand equal partnership with Spain, but civil war is unlikely.

The Barcelona correspondent of the Times reports that General Macia lias reached an agreement with Madrid. The title of " Republic of Catalonia " will be dropped and the region under his control will be known as the State of Catalonia in the Republic of Spain. CHURCH AND STATE. SEPARATION DECLARED. EQUALITY OF ALL CREEDS. LONDON, April IG. The Evening Standard announces that one notable consequence of the revolution in Spain is the formal renunciation of Roman Catholicism as the State religion. The new Minister of Justice called upon the Papal Nuncio and informed him that, in accordance with the Republicans' declaration of principles, thero would be freedom of conscience and equality of lights for all creeds and religions. Consequently Catholicism must lose its privileges of being an integral part of the State.

Priests throughout the country would bo required to accept tho principle >of separation between Church and State, and to swear loyalty to the Republic. The Papal Nuncio, while reserving the Pope's attitude, gave an assuranco that the priests would in.no way interfere in politics.

SPANISH AMBASSADOR.

NEW LONDON APPOINTMENT.

SENOR RAMON DE AYALA. LONDON. April 10. Tlie Spanish Embassy in London has boon officially informed that the now Ambassador to Britain will be Scnor Don Ramon Proz do Ayala, ail eminent author who signed tlio Republican manifesto, but who is otherwise unknown in politics.

Scnor Ramon do Ayah has been <OllO of the chief writers on El Sol, a leading Madrid daily newspaper. He was a frequent contributor to the Horaldo do. Aragon, a -Saragossa Republican daily newspaper, and other provincial journals. As a novelist he is the leader of the younger writers, and is a critic of talent. „ He has published various volumes of poetry. His ago is 50.