The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1923. CONDITIONS IN SPAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15309, 9 August 1923, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1923. CONDITIONS IN SPAIN.

The trouble which has been brewing in Spain for some years past seems to be coming to a head. We are told that the Ministry are likely to have the utmost trouble in holding their position. Discontent is rife throughout the country, and has culminated in a number of strikes, which, however,, are not concerned exclusively with questions of wages and conditions,'but are also to some extent political. The history of Spain for the past 300 years has been one long disappointment, and is in itself enough to account for unrest. There are, however, special reasons at present for disturbed conditions in the war which has been proceeding for years in Morocco. That country is so close to 'the shores of Spain that when France pushed her arms into Morocco, the Spaniards claimed a right to a large area, and by a treaty with France were allotted an area of about 12,000 square miles. It was, however, much easier to make this arrangement with France than to enforce it in the face of opposition from the, natives of the country, and Spain has had many unhappy experiences in trying to rule the Moroccans. The troops which are maintained in Morocco are always kept on a war footing. The natives are fierce and are arent Mohammedans. Their own Government was of the most primitive kind, but that has not made them more willing to accept either French or Spanish rule. The difference between them, however, is that France is efficient, while Spain is not. Morocco is an open sore for Spain, absorbing annually a large number of conscripts, who between the risks of war and of disease too often never come back. It would be well for Spain if she could humble her pride sufficiently to abandon a task which is evidently straining her, but pride has led Spain into similar dangerous places before, and at present the officers' caste in the army is in peculiar strength. It insists on the Moroccan adventure, and 1 doubtless represents a large amount of such public opinion as exists. The officers have not confined their activities to the question of Morocco. It is but a short time since they were threatening ito subvert the Government, and establish a military despotism. The financial position is bad, and has been steadily growing worse for some years, as the revenue was not estimated to meet the expenditure, and doubtless if the actual figures were published the position would be shown to be worse than the estimates. There Is a national debt of nearly £500,000,000, the interest on which is the heaviest item in the list of expenditure. Spain is a poor country; poor because of the unbusinesslike qualities of its people, and a debt which might seem small to another such population weighs heavily on them. The country is rich, in minerals, and Spain should find therein an opportunity for improving her economic position. Even here, however, there is a drawback, for the mining population are revolutionary in their political ideas. Spain is a country which has many advantages of situation, and some of climate, but it has failed to take advantage of them, and to-day occupies a position in the scale of Powers much lower than her population and geographical advantages would lead one to expect. 'Die reasons are historical and local. The Spaniard is the creature of environment to an unusual extent. His country is divided into three separate areas by mountain ranges running north and south. Inside these areas he developed local patriotism, and became a Castilian, an Arragonese or a Catalan rather than a Spaniard. To this day the strong local patriotism exists. Then again, he is the inhabitant of a land which was conquered and ruled by Saracens. 'flic highest culture which Mohammedanism attained anywhere was in Spain, and in ruining (hat culture the Spaniards ruined Spain. Existence was to them one constant crusade for centuries, and when the Moor was finally expelled devotion to the church had become

part of the people's nature. To-day they . arc the most convinced of Catholics. The Church has a firm grip on the country. Of late years there has been some advance made in checking the excessive hold of the Church, and the Pope has consented to limit the number of religious houses. The cost of ithe Church is a serious item to a poor country, and the number of men and women who devote their lives to religion is also a burden on the community. Up to 1910 twothirds of the population were unable to read or write. Since then, however, a strenuous effort, bas been made to spread education, but it will be many years before the mass of the people reach the standard of some other Continental countries. Spain had a brief period of national glory when she was the chief Power on the Continent. Her soldiers wore the most scientific, her explorers the most daring, and in literature and painting she led the world. She opened up the new world, and circumnavigated the globe, when suddenly this intense activity came to an end. It has never revived and the recollection has been a misfortune, for it has prompted ambitious projects beyond the strength of the country. From time to time some portion of its colonial empire was lost, and the country has benefited by escaping the costs of the possession. Ambition, however, leads them into such adventures as they are engaged in at Morocco. There have been great men among the Spaniards, but they have developed no political capacity, so that the measures required to improve the country are not taken. Some day a genius will arise who will exploit the latent wealth of the country, and enable it to take the position which its population, situation and possibilities warrant.