The Daily News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1931. SPAIN’S FUTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 4

The Daily News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1931. SPAIN’S FUTURE.

Whatever may be the ultimate result of the Spanish political and constitutional crisis, it is for the time being evident that King Alfonso is inclined to fight to the last ditch in defence of his sovereignty. Although to the rest of the world it is not a matter of great importance whether the King retains his position or is forced io give way to some other form of government, democratic, dictatorship or republican, it is certainly a sign of the times that a demand for constitutional revision should be popular. It is only natural there should be considerable difficulty in ascertaining the exact position of affairs, for the close censorship fin vogue necessarily prevents the presentation of the true facts, and consequently debars the world at large from obtaining impartial accounts whereon to base comment. There appears, however, sufficient evidence that the recent revolutionary movement had widespread and varied branches, and that elements from all army corps were implicated in the premature Jaca uprising, which through impatience and lack of organisation ended in failure, although the movement had been on foot since the latter half of 1929. Once the uprising failed in Madrid the necessary lead was lacking in. the pi'pvinces. That it was essentially a Republican movement —even a Conservative Republican—admits of no doubt, although the Socialists, for the sake of a normal constitution, accepted the leadership of the Right Republicans. A notable factor in the movement is found in the strength of the almost universal feeling against the Government. The workers have signified their hatred of the Government by partial and general strikes, but it is not only among the naturally discontented classes that unrest is prevalent, for the professions, wliich normally support law and order, are just as dissatisfied. Lawyers, professors and army officers are not of the stuff of which modern, revolutions

are made. Why have they been drifting into revolution in Spain? Apparently because of the feeling of insecurity which the present Monarchy brings to that country. l They could not fail to notice that the promised elections were put off again and again, owing* they concluded, to the fear of the King to face a freely-elected Parliament, and also because of the fear that his people no longer wanted him to be King. The state of Spain to-day has been likened to that of Europe in 1848, namely, in the middle of a great constitutional struggle, in which the central issue is the position of the Monarchy. May it not be truly said that Spain is an example of delayed political development ? We may not take the political troubles of that country very seriously, yet actually they concern those civic rights which were won by our own ancestors, and now taken as a matter of course, though we should, if the need arose, again fight for their retention. It is said in Paris that unbiassed judges of the situation believe King Alfonso is unlikely to proceed to extremes in order to save the throne, but will accept the situation if overwhelming public opinion is evidenced in favour of his abdication. He ought not to ignore the fact that the troubles, shifts and difficulties of the last seven years cannot fail to have impressed all Spanish intellectuals as being due to his presence and influence. In their eyes, no doubt, the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera was a means of preventing awkward inquiries into the responsibility for the Moroccan disasters. Of much significance is the statement that a solution of the problem is handicapped as the King is consulting politicians whose heyday has passed, inasmuch as it is eight years since the last election, the result being “that the new Spain emerging at present has no recognised spokesmen.” Although the King is said to be personally popular owing to his manifest courage, sporting proclivities, and happy, unceremonious manners, yet the opposition to him as King is stated to be daily growing in strength. To some Spaniards the prospect of another dictatorship may appear attractive, but it has certain disadvantages which cannot be ignored. In the present temper of the mass of the Spanish people it appears to be more thg.n likely that King Alfonso will be called’upon to abdicate, but what regime will be established is as yet a matter of speculation.