SPANISH SEPARATIST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 955, 27 December 1933, Page 1

SPANISH SEPARATIST.

Colonel Macia Dies After Operation. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. BARCELONA, December 25. The death occurred of Colonel Macia, the President of Catalonia, following an operation for appendicitis. lie was seventy-four years of age. • The body lies in state in the Palace and the public are allowed to file past. Casts have been taken from the face for bronzes. The death of the President has saddened the Christmas crowds. In Barcelona all flags are being flown at half-mast.

Colonel Francesco Macia, leader of the Catalan movement for self-govern-ment, 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 B&rcelgna and the most energetic population in Spain 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, Macia 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 1924 Macia had to leave Barcelona for Paris. lie continued to aid the separatist cause from Paris until 1926, 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, he spent some time in Uruguay, where he found more sympathy. Returning to Brussels, he worked there until January, 1930, when Rivera resigned. Colonel Macia reappeared in Barcelona in September, but was almost immediately arrested owing to his antimonarchist 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. Francis G. Murdoch. (Received December 27, 12.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 27. The death has occurred of Mr Francis Gardin Murdoch, a brother of Sir Keith Murdoch, managing-director of the “ Herald ” and “ Weekly Times,” Melbourne. Mr Murdoch was aged forty-six, and his death followed an operation for appendicitis. He was managing partner of Gibbs, Bright and Company.