The Washington times., 1901-07-18
The Naturalization of Snnin.

! A report for which the Vienna "Po-
! litische Zeitung'' is responsible, has ap-
peared in Europe. to the effect that GER
| tain Spanish statesmen of high rank
! and influence have decided to ask the
| great Powers to neutralize Spain as
| Belgium and Switzerland are neutral
| lied. In 1915 the great European
| States, in the interests of peace and be-
! cause Switzerland offered facilities for
| the march of armies between France
and Italy, declared the neutrality of
that country, an arrangement which the
| Swiss accepted gladly. since it enabled
them to withdraw from the politics of
| the Continent. and save the expense of
a standing army of defence. In 1880
Belgium was treated in the same way.
I Thus, in securing immunity from at
tack under the guarantee of the Con-
cert Of Europe. both States surrendered
their sovereignty to the extent of be-
coming incapable of declaring war ex-
cept against Power which should
break the agreement and invade the
| neutralized territory.
Now il seems that many public men
in Spain favor like arrangement, be-
cause it would relieve the overbur-
dened inhabitants of the Kingdom
/ in the matter of supporting a per-
manent military establishment dispro-
portioned to the resources, and the
ability of the nation to pay the cost. y
better plan to ensure the prosperity of
Spain could not well be conceived. The
t. ilaIn
pride and conceit may be still Strong
enough TO defeat such a project Of
course. those Spaniards who have alb
sorbed the lesson of the late war with
the United States, thoroughly under
stand that their country has sunk from
the level of the first to that of the
third class among powers. They at
least are not foolish enough to think
that with the present military strength
of Spain, and particularly in view OF
the corruption that VIGOROUSLY honey
combs her army and navy, she could
| hope to cut any but a ridiculous figure
in war with an antagonist of the first
or even the second rank. The danger
of being driven Intas such a struggle
would be instantly eliminated By resort
to naturalization, and the protection of
the guaranteeing Powers would apply
also in cases of difference with Cover n
ments of her own class.
Freed from the cost of her relatively
large army, and from the risk of at
tack by foreign Powers, Spain would be
in an excellent position to re-establish
internal prosperity and To develop all
the possibilities of her agriculture, man
ufactures and commerce. Under such
conditions the Kingdom might grow in
wealth rapidly and soon become as
prosperous as any of her neighbors
But the proposed change is one that
the Spanish military leaders would be
| certain TO antagonize, since it would
leave them superfiuous on the stage,
| and cut IF those sources of illegitimate
profit which in present circumstances
I render il easy for King Alfons5s gen
erals to grow rich at :he expense Of
the country. Naturally they aNill ap-
peal 20 native pride and picture the hu-
initiation that would result from loss Of
/ power to declare war. Perhaps there is
patriotism and good sense enough in
Spain to overcome this reactonary and
selfish influence; but that remains to be
| seen