SPAIN’S FUTURE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1931, Page 7

SPAIN’S FUTURE

CONSTITUTION REVIVED

LIBERAL LEADER SUMMONED

PROSPECT OF ABDICATION

'NEW SPAIN’ LACKS LEADER

KING’S ENEMY PROMINENT

By Telegraph-Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 11.25 p.m. .Madrid, Feb. 15.

After consultation with General Berenguer, with whom he discussed conversations with various leaders, King Alfonso decided to telfegrapb. summoning to Madrid Sepor Alba, the Liberal leader, who is living in virtual exile at Paris. The King Will invite Senor Alba to form a Government, which will be a strange development after the many years of political persecution which King Alfonso permitted. The King’s next step is to decide whether ho will accept the proposals of the extreme Constitutionalists, who want him to stand aside while the nation elects a constituent assembly empowered to reduce him to a mere figurehead, or to choose a policy based on the Suggestion of Count Romanorics, whereby he will lose only certain Royal prerogatives. But the popular demand for. a' complete revision of the constitution is so strong that it is believed that King Alfonfeo is willing to surrender. As Senor Alba cannot get back. to Madrid until Monday night, the crisis is marking time. If he arrives as expected the King will ask him to form a Cabinet of dyhastic but extreme Constitutionalists by which Parliament will be convoked, but with which the King cannot interfere. Senor Don Jose Sanchez-Gurirra, as leader of the Monarchical Conservatives, is the outstanding personality of the crisis. He is a man of great energy and a vigorous thinker who is an upholder of the monarchy but is radically hostile to King Alfonso. The fact that he was called in to advise the Throne shows how far against the Crown the movement has gone. Paris messages, however, suggest it is doubtful whether Senbr Alba will return to Madrid unless he receives ah undertaking that King Alfonso is ready to abandon the traditional policy of the Spanish monarchy. Unbiassed judges of the situation Relieve King Alfonso is Unlikely to proceed to extremities in order to save the throne, but will accept the situation if overwhelming public opinion is evidenced in favriur bf abdication. The King is personally popular owing to his manifest courage, his sporting proclivities and happy, uncerehionious manners.

Curiously enough, on Sunday, the first day of the carnival, no stranger would ever have believed the country was facing its most critical time in 50 years—thousands pargded the streets of Midrid in fancy dress and laughter and inerritaent were general. “Reality is more powerful than Royalty,” was the remark of Senor. San-chez-Guerra, leader of the Valencia revolt against General de Rivera, made to King Alfonso' during the discussions in which the King engaged. The cpristitutional problem has been racking Spain since the Napoleonic invasibn, was shelved in 1876, when King Alfonso’s father ascended the strone, and is again a burning question owing to King Alfonso’s support of a dictatorship. It was Count Romanones, a staunch Royalist reputed to be the riiost asttße of the old school of politicians, who put the match to tfie powder. His agreement to enter candidates at the elections encouraged General Berenglier to persist in a policy which the Constitutionalists opposed, after which Count Romanones with ah ally in the former Prime Minister, the Marquis Alhucemas (nicknamed “the Undertaker of the Constitution” Owing to his pusillanimity when General de Rivera seized the dictatorship) decided indirectly to join the Constitutionalists by demanding new elections immediately, though the general election is next month. Sehor Cortes, elected by the Constitutionalists, objected to that, declaring a double election was wasting tirhe. A solution is handicapped, as the King is consulting politicians'-whose heyday has paSsed inasmuch a? it is eight years since last election. The result is that the new Spain at present emerging has not recognised spokesmen.

Count Romanones, in reply to criticisms, declares the elimination of General Berenguer alone has greatly served the nation.

SENOR ALBA STAY? IN PARIS.

DEFINITE INTENTION ANNOUNCED Rec. 1.50 a.m. Paris, Feb. 16. Following a long telephone conversation with Count Ramonones Senor Alba issued a statement announcing his definite intention to remain here.