PLIGHT OF PRESS IN SPAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17954, 5 December 1932, Page 8

PLIGHT OF PRESS IN SPAIN

MANY PAPERS SUPPRESSED REPUBLICAN POLICY MADRID. October 18 Tho plea put forward recently at Geneva by cue of the Spanish representatives at the meeting of the League of Nations, Senorila <le Paleneia, herself a distinguished journalist, that the next World: Press Conference should be held at- Madrid, should contribute to focus international attention oil the sorry plight of the press under the Republic.

Never in its history lias the national press suffered such vexation, or been the victim of arbitrary action to the extent exercised by the Republican authorities. It would be difficult to find parallels to the severity of the measures taken recently. The Government does not exercise censorship. It simply suppresses. After the revolt last August, it is stated, 115 news organs of one sort or another were ordered to cease publication. In view of the positive assurances given to the .Spanish people in their new constitution that they shall be free to give expression to their opinions in any form, this ruthless attack on press liberties might well cause astonishment, which increases with the knowledge that, so far as can be ascertained, although dozens of newspapers were suspended, not a single one was afterwards incriminated or charged with participation iu the revolt.

SOME NEWSPAPERS REAPPEAR By batches of twos and threes most of the newspapers are now being'allowed to reappear, but a goodly number still lie under the ban. For the losses suffered by newsbapoi; owners, editorial; and employees there is no hope of indemnity or redress. In these circumstances tlie feelings of editors are not enviable, foi; if they remain faithful to tlie ideals they represent they rislf,. inn posing further hardships on innocent families. After a year and a half of the Republican regime, and especially, since, the constitution was voted, it should not be. necessary to invoke the plea, of urgency to justify the extremely severe measures outlined, above unless the situation be . low the surface is known to tlm authorities to be far less secure than appearances indicate or they themselves' proclaim. To outside .observers, it. seei-ii|| more probable that the Republican Government is falling into the error that afflicted Monarchist dictatorships, and is seeking to govern on restricted party lines. It is, indeed, apparent that, the foundations of the Republic have shrunk rather than broadened since April, 1931.