DICTATOR GOES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1930, Page 11

DICTATOR GOES

SPAIN’S PREMIER RESIGNS ATTEMPT to avoid revolt OPPOSITION TO DE RIVERA : SUDDEN DRAMATIC EVENTS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copy right . ... Madrid, Jan. 28. The Spanish dictatorship, which has, been in existence since 1923, ended when General Primo de Rivera handed his resignation to the King at midday. General Dhmasco Berenguer, chief of the King’s military household and. a former Iligli Commissioner in Morocco, has been deputed to form a Cabinet. Events moved with dramatic sudden--'mess. ■ day the Ministers of Finance Bild the Interior were present with King ■ Mfonso. • The resignation took place a few hours sooner than expected and was stated to he directly due to ominous information from the provinces, partiehlarly "Andalucia and Cadiz, indicating that a state of great unrest had spread ■ throughout the country. Details of a planned revolt at Barcelona and the fact’that many military units, especially artillery, engineers and the air force, were opposed to the Premier’s policy, reached the capital. . General de Rivera had telephone consultations with the director of the Civil' Guard and the chiefs of police, after which he decided to see the King to inform him-of the situation, and-point out that a crisis might be Solved by ■bis immediate resignation. It is stated the culminating of his resignation ■ was due to' the fact that during a conference with the King General de Rivera stated he did not realise that Iris note submitting himself to a test of confidence by the navy find the'army had in effect ignored, the King's authority, thereby placing his opinion in the army and navy above that of the King, who' possessed the absolute right to appoint and dismiss Ministers. ' PREMIER’S APOLOGY IGNORED. The Prime Minister apologised to the King, but the King apparently ignored jhim and forthwith accepted his resignation, though he agreed not to publish the fact before the Cabinet met. Throughout the day the King received intimations by . telephone and telegraph arid personal calls of the garrisons’ support of anjU Government entrusted with the ,: 'King’s confidence. All clashes to-, night took ; the utmost , precautions to avdid' \iprisings. The civ.il guard and artilleiy were ordered to remain in barracks. A typical sample of the censorship is the fact that not a single newspaper in Spain published General de Rivera’s .resignation. General Berenguer informed the British United Press Agency that if the situation cannot be solved he will form a Cabinet because he will unconditionally serve the King and the Motherland, tion in the army and respectedETAOlN General Berenguer is in a strong position in the army and respected by the party leaders. His Cabinet will be a bridge between the Dictatorship and the Government, which will be formed under constitutional conditions. It is believed that General de' Rivera’s Assembly, appointed by decree, will be dissolved. Students started rioting at Madrid in the evening, shouting, “We won’t have Berengiier; no more generals.” The police were forced to draw their swords and made a number of arrests. One gil was wounded. said he will not act as an officer but General Berenguer in a statement as a civilian. General Rivera remained jocular and breezy to the end. Standing in the doorway of the palace, he told the photographers, "This will probably be the last picture -you- will* take of me here.” General Berenguer has always been regarded as hostile to General Rivera, nevertheless General Rivera in announcing bis successor said that Gcerjil Bereng»K*r was thoroughly competent to handle, the country's affairs and sang his praises for a considerable time*. His last words officially were: “I am going home to have supper quietly. I think you will agree 1 well deserve it.” Subsequently he said he was going to leave the army. . . General Berenguer. remained at the. office in the palace from 7.30 until General de Rivera left. J r e then entered theBoyal chambers, and he emerged at 9.50,. He said, “I come as a, soldier to fulfil ,my duty, i will act as a citizen.” He refused to say whether the Ministry would be composed of civil and military elements, answering only, "It will be u. Government.” ■ - . • - -“ •' * \ The first evening paper published the news in a special edition at 10.25 p.m. Meantime the news was spread verbally. Ulubs and cafes were the scenes of animated discussion, but the average citizen semed unconcerned. .Students tried to hoist.the Red Flag outside the Royal Palace;'but were dispersed. A-girl was wounded by a’stone thrown at the policemen. - , • - In Barcelona revolvers were fired durin<r a clash, between, police and students and one civilian .was wounded by a shot fired by a student. , A revolt planned in Cadiz-was abandoned on receipt of the news Iroinrtli'e The immediate cause of the Dic.atoi s resio-nxtion was the expulsion of four officers from Seville, which was iollowed bv the resignation of the taptaimGen oral of Seville, the Infante Carlos, cousin of King Alfonso, .who stated, that he di-i not wish longer to retain command of the garrison, which was threatening revolt This obliged General de Rivera to take action and explains his note askin" the chiefs of 'the army and navy jf°tbey were satisfied with the regime. The reply of Prince C-rlos,is. not known, but General Barera, Captam-Gcncrhl of Catalonia, arrived at Madrid yestciday morning and immediately saw the King. The replv of' the navy was, “Your question is political and we are not poll,-', ticians.” ......... . ... I In tendering his resignation Geliei al de Rivera said: "I fe'rilisd tli:(t ' I inade a jwistake i:i i’Siiiug; Gie