ALFONSO REFUSED TO SIGN PAPER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 43, 20 February 1931, Page 1

ALFONSO REFUSED TO SIGN PAPER.

WHY SENOR GUERRA FAILED IN MISSION.

(United Press Assn.—By Electric T elegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 20, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, February 19. The Madrid correspondent of the “ Daily Telegraph ” transmits an interesting story of how the plot to involve King Alfonso in a renunciation of his Royal prerogative broke down. It is known that Senor Guerra took to the Palace a document for the Royal -signature committing his Majesty to immediate political inactivity and impotence. It is also known that he had in his pocket for the King a list of nominees for a Cabinet. It is known, further, that Senor Guerra came from the Palace saying that he never produced the list to the King owing to its inherent unsuitability.

Everybody is asking why Senor Guerra changed his mind in regard to presenting the list, and the answer generally accepted is that King Alfonso flatly refused to relinquish his prerogative. Senor Guerra, foreseeing that this would involve conflict between the Crown and the country if stressed by him, came from the palace with the list still in his pocket, confessing his own failure at the psychological moment, to produce it. The situation is not dissimilar to that in Bernard Shaw’s play, “ The Apple Cart,” in which King Magnus upsets the Ministry’s apple cart by agreeing to abdicate, but announcing his intention to become Parliamentary candidate for the Royal Borough of Windsor. The Ministry, foreseeing that King Magnus would be elected and form his own party, preferred him to stay on the throne.

“ OLD GANG ” STILL IN CONTROL IN SPAIN.

KING HAS RALLIED THEM TO AID OF THE THRONE. MADRID, February 18. Though the general impression is that Admiral Aznar’s acceptance of the Premiership really means that King Alfonso has rallied the “ old gang ” to the aid of the Throne, it is hoped that Admiral Aznar wilT assure the impartiality of the coming elections. The new. Premier states that v his aim is to re-establish normal constitutional government. The Ministry is really' a coalition of all parties except the Republicans and Socialists. The strong man of the Cabinet will be Count Romanones.