DESIGNS OF RUSSIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 9

DESIGNS OF RUSSIA.

•FRESH TOOLS SOUGHT. SPANIARDS AND PORTUGUESE REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES. "By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Times Cable. LONDON, March 25. The Madrid correspondent of the Times states that Russian agents and Communists arc seeking to make Spain and Portugal into Red units. There is no great Communist Tarty in either country. Nevertheless tho socialists, syndicalists, anarchists and Communist workmen's groups have agreed to " fish in troubled waters," tho Russian representatives supplying the bait and tools, including money, arms and bundles of propaganda. The bookshops are crowded with translations of Russian social doctrines. A Communist congress held at Seville, where the famous Holy Week ceremonies were suppressed, was notable for the violence of the language of the speakers, who included several Deputies. 'lhcy declared that tho recent revolution was farcical and that it had resulted in bloodier oppression than that of the exKing Alfonso. The speakers called upon tho peasants and factory hands to unite in " a new and redder rebellion." There aro two reasons why Communism should fail in Spain, says tho correspondent. The first is that Spaniards have common sense and tho second is that there is a strong army and heavily reinforced police aro equipped and specially trained to withstand shocks. Jt is even more doubtful, says the correspondent, if the milder Portuguese will be accessible to Communist doctrines. Tho only Holy Week procession at Seville occurred to-day (Good Friday), when images of Christ and the Virgin were acclaimed by thousands of Roman Catholics. However, on again approaching the Cathedral, syndicalists stoned the imago of Christ and fired shots at the image of tho Virgin. Indignant devotees nearly lynched the culprits, whom the police rescued.