OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22207, 27 December 1933, Page 7

OBITUARY

COLONEL MACIA.

PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA.

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Barcelona, December 25 The death has occurred of Colonel Francesco Macia, President of Catalonia, following an operation for appendicitis. He was 74 years of age. His body lies in state at the palace and the public are allowed to file past. Casts were taken from the face for bronzes. His death saddened Christmas crowds in Barcelona. All flags are at half-mast and balconies are draped with crepe.

Francesco Macia, leader of the Catalan movement for self-government, was born in Catalonia in 1859. Entering the army, he saw service in the Spanish-American war and also in his country’s many campaigns in Morocco, reaching the rank of colonel. During that period he took no part in politics, although he had always held that, as Catalonia with its great port of Barcelona and the most energetic population in Spam contributed a very large proportion of the country’s taxes, it should have the right to administer its own affairs. When, however, in September 1923, General Primo de Rivera became Dictator in Madrid, Macla appeared openly as an opponent of Madrid control and also of the monarchy. He was made leader of a new and vigorous party entitled "Catalan Action.” Rivera at once took steps to crush the Catalan movement and in 1921 Macia had to leave Barcelona for Pans. He continued to aid the separatist cause from Paris until 192 G when he was arrested by the French on the ground that he was planning a military incursion into Spain. Being expelled from France, he settled in Brussels In 1927 he went to South America to raise funds for his cause. Expelled from Argentina, be spent some time in Uruguay where he found more sympathy. Returning to Brussels, he worked there until January 1930, when P.ivera resigned. Macia reappeared in Barcelona in September, but was almost immediately arrested owing to his anti-monarchist views and was kept in prison until February, 1931. Two months later after an adverse vote at the municipal elections King Alfonso left the country and a republic was proclaimed. Macia at once declared the formation of a Catalan Republic and was elected its President. Later the name "Generality” was given to the Catalan administration and a charter was drawn up declaring the existence of a Catalan State within the Spanish Republic and providing for a separate Parliament. This charter Macia formally presented to the Madrid Parliament in August. His position was rendered difficult, however, by the fact that he owed his "power largely to the Syndicalists, who are hostile to the other parties and desire an anarchist regime.