The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-09
The Recent Change Of Ministry at
Madrid.

Madrid.
Although Spain has ceased to be
neighbor of ours, we regard with inter-
est her efforts at rehabilitation through
a development of her internal resources
and an enlightened foreign policy. We
do not underrate the difficulties which
will have to be surmounted. On the
one hand, the money needed to promote
internal improvements can only be Sc
cured by curtailment of the current
expenses of government. On the other
hand, il she is to resume a place of
Importance in the European concert,
through cooperation either with the
Triple Alliance or with the Franco-Rus-
sian league, she must make her friend
ship valuable; TO which end she must
maintain her army in state OF efficiency,
and must also create a navy. Are the
two objects compatible? That both
cannot easily be compassed is evident
from the discord which caused the other
day rupture of the Silvela Cabinet, and
q new Ministry under Senior VILLAvERDF,
who previously was the President of the
Chamber Of Deputies.
The late Premier, Senior SILvEIA, has
made no secret of his belief that Spain
ought TO contract close political relations
with France. In a speech which he made
in the Chamber of Deputies, just before
rendering his resignation to King AL
FoNso Kill, he pointed out that the
country was vitaIly concerned in the
question of Morocco. There alone lies
the possibility of SPANS acquiring
substitute for the transmarine empire
which she has lost The deposition of
the Shereefian dynasty can hardly be
long deferred and the Madrid Govern
ment should be prepared to make good
it's claim TO a part, if not the whole, of
the fertile territory that forms the north
western angle of Africa. To the further
ance of its pretensions in that quarter,
the friendship of France, which owns
Algeria. would be obviously helpful, if
not Indispensable. France, however,
will naturally require a aud pro quo
Spain, therefore, must be able to render,
not only military, but naval assistance
to her ally, should the latter be involved
in war.
Not only at Trafalgar, but in the con-
fiicts which ended in 1888 and 1888 France
regarded the cooperation of Spanish
warships as essential If Spain had at
her disposal not only the admirable naval
stations of Carthagena and Minorca, but
also half u dozen battleshipS and as many
armored cruisers. she could powerfully
aid France TO contest England's SUI
premacy in the Mediterranean Or IT,
under such circumstances, she should
decide TO throw her weight into the
scale on the side Of the Triple Alliance,
she could give France great deal OF
trouble. without "A navy she would
have nothing to offer anybody, except
her naval stations, and possibly, "A
detachment of troops, with which she
might either make diversion in favor
Of Germany on the Pyreneaan frontier,
or assist France to defend Savoy from
an attack on the part Of Italy.
The conclusion drawn by Senior Sill
vELA from these premises was that.
whether, deferring to the wishes of the
Queen Regent. an Austrian Archduchess,
Spain should lean toward the Triple
Alliance, or should revert to the hisori-
cal Trancophile policy Of her Bourbon
sovereigps, her most urgent need was
the creation of a naval force.
On the other hand, almost all the
Liberal and Radical members of the
Chamber of Deputies insist that all sums
disbursed for navy, no longer needed
for the defence of colonies, would be
thrown away, and that every penny that
can be gained by rigorous economy in
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