SPANISH CONSTITUTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 9

SPANISH CONSTITUTION

DEMAND FOR A CHANGE. FORMATION OF MINISTRY. SENOR GUERRA DECLINES. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 17. A report from Madrid states that after visiting King Alfonso Senor Guerra announced that he declined to form a government, and advised the King to summon Senor Alvarez, the leadci of the Reformists. ATTITUDE OF REPUBLICANS. KING MUST ABDICATE. MADRID, February 17. The Republicans’ refusal to join Senor Guerra’s Cabinet is explained by the statement: “We don't trust the King.” Professor Gallardo, dean of the College of Lawyers, similarly declined, saying: “It is time enough to listen to proposals when the King abdicates.” SELECTION OF MINISTERS. - KING NOT TO INTERFERE. PARTS, February 17. Le Journal’s Madrid correspondent says that King Alfonso was forced to agree to a decree surrendering all initiative in governmental matters. He will not interfere in the selection of Ministers or the issue of ordinances pending the decision ,of a constituent assembly. It is believed that if the King had refused there would have been a general strike to-day. There are no demonstrations at present.

CONFUSION IN MADRID. MADRID, February 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 5.5 p.m.) The greatest confusion reigned from dawn to dusk, and rumours were circulated that cavalry and artillery regiments in various towns had declared their willingness to support the King against any enemies he cared to name. Such announcement elsewhere would be a mere declaration of loyalty, but in Spain it has a decided political signiflcance. Senor Guerra's failure to form a Cabinet created a profound being interpreted as meaning that the King refused to accept the Constitutionalists’ conditions. . The newspaper El Debate criticises Senor Guerra’s* visit to the gaol in order to secure the delinquents’ co-operation, and it declares that he should be sent to an asylum. VIRTUALLY MARTIAL LAW. LONDON, February 17. A Madrid message reports that constitutional have been suspended throughout Spain. This is tantamount to martial law. THE QUEEN’S RETURN. MADRID, February 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 8 p.m.) King. Alfonso sprang another surprise by meeting Queen Ena at the station. About 500 people, most of whom were highly placed officials, awaited the Queen on the platform. The King’s arrival was entirely unexpected and created wild excitement. He smiled and waved his silk hat to the crowd. When he saw that Queen Ena was on the ■ verge of tears he took her in his arms and hugged and kissed her. By a strange contrast there were not more than 20 persons in the station courtyard, but as the King and Queen drove unescorted- through the streets to the palace thousands of people cheered their Majesties, who came out on the balcony and acknowledged the applause.

MONARCHIST LEADERS. SERVICES OFFERED TO KING. LONDON, February 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 9 pan.) Fortified with supplies of food in readiness for an all-night sitting in Madrid, the Monarchist leaders, including General Berenguer, Duke Maura, Count Romanones, and Senors Garcia, Prieto, and La Cierva assembled early in the evening at the War Ministry, After a sitting which lasted five hours, Senor Wais, as the senior Minister, went to the Palace to report to King Alfonso. Senor Prieto stated that all those who were present at the conference decided to place themselves at the disposal of the King. No Government was formed, but the members of the conference offered their services should his Majesty care to accept them. Count Romanones said that not all the members of the conference would be members of the new Cabinet. He could only say that to-morrow there would be a new Government. “We shall call the constituent assembly, and we will meet again at the War Ministry to settle matters.” It is thought probable that General Berenguer will be Prime Minister, and it is expected that Count Romanones will be a member of the Cabinet. It had been intended to give the Prime Ministership to Senor La Cierva, but the plan was abandoned because it was understood that the workers would have called a general strike, orders for which, it is believed, had already been given. It is believed that the end of the crisis is in sight, and it is stated that the list of tlie new _ Cabinet is ready for presentation to King Alfonso. Count Romanones told a British United Press special correspondent that it was practically certain that the Cabinet would be sworn in later to-day. It is said that the members of the conference decided to call the constituent assembly to revise the constitution without limiting the powers of King Alfonso as stringently as was previously proposed. . Admiral Aznar is likely to be Prime Minister if General Berenguer is unwilling to act or is not chosen. MUTINY AT JETAFE. AN ARTILLERY REGIMENT. LONDON, February 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) The Manchester Guardian’s Bordeaux correspondent states that an artillery regiment at Jctafc, near Madrid, mutinied. The mutineers placed guns and shells on the road to the capital, with the guns pointing at the Palace. The revolutionaries, making common cause with the inhabitants of the lower quarters of Madrid, blocked the roads to Jetafe. The authorities are taking drastic precautions, and are placing civil guards at strategic points lest the movement should spread to other garrisons. Jetafe itself appears to bo calm. THE STRIKE POSTPONED. MADRID, February 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 8 p.m.) The Revolutionary Committee has postponed the strike.