New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-18
SPA|N'S NEW PREMIER
Romanones Holds King in His
Financial Tolls.

ID
From dynastic point of view, Alfonso
XIII has been singulariy unfortunate In
his selection Of Count Romanones as his
new Premier. In succession to the muir
dered Don Jose Canaiejas. For Roma
nones (whose patronymic is FIgueros.
ana whose family have been In Malaga
for some generations what the Fuggsrs
were In the Middle Ages IN Augsburg, is
generally credited throughout SPAIN
justly or unjustly-with having his young
sovereign under financial obligations TO
such an extent that the latter is not q
free agent
Indeed, 1t Is popular talk that all the
military operations around Melllla, which
cost Spain SO much life and treasure, and
all the trouble with France, which IN
ficted such incaiculable injury upon tho
industry Of Spain and her trade with
her Northern neighbor, were due 10 the
syndicate headed by Romanones being
bent on securing the hinterland of Melllla
for Its great mineral wealth.
In fact the Romsnones syndicate ba.
long had concessions Of all mineral rights
In the district. but was naturally unable
to turn them to account, or to work them
until Spain established her rule and SOW
ereignty over that portion of the Moorish
Empire. That Is understood to have been
the reason of the Spanish war upon the
Rin Moors, and OF the long drawn-out
crisis between Spain and France regard
Ing the formers pretensions TO territorial
rights in Morocco.
Moreover the Republicans. the Cariists
and the other foes Of the Crown and OF
the present Liberal regime do not hest
tate TO proclaim on every occasion and to
promul8ate In the press the idea that all
the Spanish lives that have been sacrificed
In the military operations in Northern
Africa, and all the fortunes, the business
concerns. and the industries that have
been wrecked through the recent trouble
with France, may be laid at the door OF
the Romanones Riff mining syndicate,
adding that, through the large sums OF
money which he had loaned to the King
he has been able TO induce the latter to
conform the policy OF Spain in Morocco
and in France to suit the selfish interests
OF the syndicate, rather than those Of the
nation.
Now. these popular imputations against
Alfonso XIII may not be true-at any
rate, perhaps not In their entirety. But
that they are widely believed throughout
Spain II Is impossible TO deny. Equally
!ncontrovertible is the fact that Count
Romanones and his financial ring have
vast mining interests IN that portion OF
Northern Morocco which has finally been
recognized BY France as the Spanish
sphere Under the circumstances. the Sc
lection by the King Of Count Romanones
as Premier In the place Of the late Jose
Canalejas Is most unfortunate In every
way.
Among the operations in which he has
been involved have been the Rio de Ora
business, the tobacco monopoly. the boil
stering up OF the transatlantic line, ana
asst but not least the mining conces-
sIons IN the hinterland Of Melila-con-
cessions which were obtained in the FIRST
place from the Moorish bandit and pre-
tender, FL Roghi. but which. OF course,
were practically valueless until Spain &C.
qu.red control of the country and sub
dued the turbulent population, which
rendered the exploiting OF the concessions
impossible.
A former associate OF Count Roman
ones, and one with whom he has since
bitterly quarrelled, is Senior Villanueva,
who until his differences with the count
was president Of the latter's Spanish min
ing company In Melllia. Villanueva, who
Is a former Liberal member OF the Cortes,
IL, rs ~,
speeches and In print that the outbreak
by the natives which resulted in the death
OF four Spanish workmen outside Meulla'
which furnished Spain with pretext for
the military operations around Melills
three or four years interpretations that
have continued ever since-was deIoer-
ately organized with this object In view
Nor has Romanones ever made any at
tempt to bring Senior Villanueva to book
for this amazing accusation.
II is only fair TO Alfonso KID 10 state
that II he has become involved In fnan-
cial obligations to Romanones, It has
been due TO his extravagances In matters
of sport and Of charity, but not In those
OF vice II has been Justly said OF the
young monarch that he Is without vices,
that his life is singularly clean as far as
morality is concerned. that he has sept
clear from all those extra.domestic en-
tanglements which have played so great
and sometimes SO disastrous a role In the
careers OF his predecessors on the throne;
ard that his only faults are a love Of
sport. developed almost TO the extent OF
q mania, and an inability TO appreciate
the value of money in the dispensation OF
charity. In fact, his generosity is alto
gether disproportionate TO the size Of his