The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-03
Spain and France.

chicago cOnferrers may have conferred
better than they know.
Spain and France.
In the tariff war which has been raging
for some months in Europe. and whose pur-
pose was to condemn France to commercial
isolation. Germany has received check.
The most strenuous efforts have been made
on the part OF the diplomatic representa-
tives OF the Triple Alliance to include Spain
in the commercial union projected by Chan
cellor CAPRIvI, and which already embraces
Belgium and Switzerland as well As the
three central powers. The sympathies OF
the Queen Regent CHRISTINA were easily
enlisted by her HAPsBURa relatives In favor
OF the scheme. which was also viewed with
favor by most OF the partisans Of the BouR-
BON dynasty. who are still smarting under
the indignities offered to the late ALFONSO
XII. in Paris. It was urged by the advocates
OF the proposed commercial coalition that
only through acquiescence in the wishes OF
Germany could Spain hope to be invited to
take part In the next European Congress
and thus resume her former rank among
the great powers OF Europe. Until the last
few days 1t has seemed probable that the
anti French party at Madrid would tri-
umph. for the month Of January passed
without measures being taken to renew
acceptable commercial arrangements. al
though 1t was known that on Feb. the
maximum duties provided by the new
French tariff would be imposed on Spanish
products.
All at once. however. the situation Is re-
versed. The Spanish Government declines
to- become a commercial parasite Of the
Triple Alliance and proclaims its wish to
enter into close trade relations with the
French republic. How difficult 1t was for the
Spanish Cabinet to arrive at a decision. amid
the conflict Of opinion at Madrid. may be
judged from the fact thatit WAS not reached
until the last moment. 1t was not until Feb.
1. when the French protective tariff went
into operation. that the Spanish Ambassador
at Paris. acting under instructions from
Sef1or CANovAs DEL CASTILLO visited the
French Minister Of Foreign Affairs and ex-
pressed the strong desire Of Spain to bring
about an understanding with France either
through definite commercial treaty or by
temporary agreement. The overture
will. Of course. be promptly and cordially
accepted. France having strong political as
well as commercial reasons for wishing to
avert the combination Of Spain with the
central powers. How welcome the pros
pect Of intimate trade relations with the
Iberian Peninsula will be to the French
consumers Of Spanish products. and partic-
ularly OF Spanish wines. may be inferred
from the fact that for weeks all the railways
running to the French frontier have been
taxed to their utmost capacity in the effort
to deliver goods before the new French tar
III went into operation.
There Is no more stalwart champion Of
the cause Of monarchy in Spain than
Sefior CANovAs. nor would any Castilian
statesman more willingly conform to the
wishes Of the Queen Regent II they could
be carried out consistently with the inter-
ests OF the country or even OF the dynasty
itself. France has hitherto been Spain's
best customer. and 1t Is very questionable
whether free access to the markets of Italy.
Germany. and Austria would compensate
her for exclusion from those OF the French
republic. Still more potent is the pressure
which has been cxerted on the Spanish
Prime Minister by political considerations.
Franco Is close at hand. conterminous,
whereas the central powers are far away.
and could help the Spanish monarchy only
through their navies. which. taken to-
gether. are inferior to the French force at
sea. Then. again. France Is republic,
| whereas Spain is monarchy undermined
and honeycombed by republican ideas. 1t
would make vast difference to the stabll-
| ity OF the BOURBON dynasty at Madrid
| whether the French authorities should
| firmly oppose or secretly favor the fitting
out Of expeditions by GORILLA and his
| fellow conspirators. AS it is. the CANovAs
Government has lately been harassed with
| local disturbances 80 frequent and formida-
ble as to portend the outbreak OF general
revolution. The so-called Anarchists who
have been causing so much trouble In
Andalusia on the one hand and In
Biscay on the other. and who have
venturcd to attack So largo town as
Here's. are obviously only revolutionists in
| disguise. Their aims, ostcnslbly agrurlan
and soclalistic. could only be attained
through political uphcaval. The Spanish
army. on which Sehor CANovAs must rely
as an instrument Of coercion. has ceased to
be entirely trustworthy. Not only has the
republican propaganda mado great prog
ress among the rank and file. but some OF
| the general officers are believed to be dis
affected, 1t was only the other day that the
Government suddenly placed OH the retired
list one OF the most distinguished and
popular Of Spanish Generals. who as Min
lister Of War in the SAGAsrA Cabinet was a
persistent advocate Of military reforms.
Precarious as Is the present position OF the
dynasty. it would be far more seriousl Y
weakened II to the present provocations OF
discomfort should be added the wrath OF the
producers at losing their best customer. and
the covert encouragement OF Spanish In
surgents by the relaxation OF vigilance on
the French frontier. On the whole. Sefor
CANovAs seems to have made up his mind
that the German birds In the bush are
much less worth purchasing than the
| Eronch hi rd In tho I'm nd