The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-19
Prof. German Neutrality of Dato Cabi.
net Likely to Be Reversed Under
Count. Romanones
u, T.. ,vNLIrFE.OwE In.

sort uf impartiality, and the
= American people have been
earned rs President Wilson to re-
rain from manifesting preference for
,he one group or the other of the ma
IONS now at war. 50 that the neutral
~ Of the United States might remain
nnimpiirod. Paradoxical though 1t
may appear under the circumstances.
more are two kinds Of neutrality, of
Numerically opposite character. and
,either OF them can be described as
characterized by strict impartiality.
They are the friendly and the un-
friendly neutrality.
The Conservative administration Of
senior Eduardo Dato. which has just
,sen ovcrthrown at Madrid, professed
neutrality that leaned strongly
toward Germany and Austria. Count
Aware ~Romanones. the new Premier
of Spain. and the Liberal party, OF
which he is the acknowledged leader,
have all along since the beginning Of
the war displayed a neutrality Of the
mos, friendly and sympathetic ma
ture toward France, Great Britain
and their allies.
II will therefore be readily under
stood that the change OF Cabinet
which took place last week in Spain
a source Of profound satisfaction in
Paris. London. Petrograd and Rome
and OF corresponding dismay at Ber-
ln and Vienna.
II IS n change OF government that
has indeed been largely brought about
by dissensions between the Conserva-
i.ves and the Liberals regarding the
obligations of neutrality. At the out
o., Of the present war France, strong
in the belief Of the loyal friendship Of
Alfonso NH. and OF the powerful
LIBERAL party, then In opposition. with
drew all her troops from her Pyrenean
border for use against the Germans on
her eastern front.
The German Ambassador at Madrid
and his horde of official and unofficial
agents have in consequence thereof
been busy for months past urging the
necessity fcr mobilization of the
spanish army and for the massing Of
troops on the northern frontier. argu.
Inc that II the Allies won France
would have OF her hands a large vet
erdn army with which she might turn
on Spain, 10 seize the latter's rich
ao-thern provinces. and that II on the
o,hs- hand the Allies were beaten the
french forces r~etreating before the adj.
vance Of h victorious German army
would be likely 10 retire across the
F~yrcHees and seek refuge in Spain,
.u5, ~ Gen. E~ourbaki's army Of 90, 900
ul'r2ined troops sought safety in
sT.i'er'aAd f.on the pursuit OF Gen.
Won Wtrdrr's Victorious forces in the
F;-noo-'icrman war of 1870.
Senior Dato's administration seems
" nave lent ear TO these recommended
tons For III" Minister # War,
Lien: Con. Ecnague. recently put
Onward an army bll providing no
o2.r f'T "A considerable augmentation
0; tie military forces OF the kingdom.
hut all" FOR their mobilization. for
'ranWuvrcs in the north" AT such a
vas, increase Of cost that It was re-
!ected by the Cortes. even a section OF
the Conservatives. under ex-Premier
Maura. voting aga INST 1t.
The Liberals in opposing the bill
took the ground that In view OF the
failure q the last Government loan
there was not enough money available
for the purpose, and that in any case
certain economic measures of a very
Wessd'g nature were entitled TO
p'lpTi'E over the projects of Gen.
f"aasue. But the man reason Of their
objection VAS that any mobilization of
Spanish trpops in the northern
PROVINCES would require a correspond
ing mass!ng by France of an army
sorg her Pyrenean frontier, at present
quite unguarded, and would compel her
10 weaken FOR the purpose her forces
lighting the Germans on her eastern
front. This the Liberals declared
would be unneutral toward France.
whereas the Kalser's Ambassador at
Madrid protested that the failure OF the
span sh Government to take this step
Would be unneutral toward Germany.
The Dato administration. however,
mas since the beginning Of the war
found plenty ~ other means OF making
trouble for the Allies and Of helping
Inc Gerinans by vexatious attempts TO
if"vfCt the export of supplies, notably
copper, foodstuffs and of mules, to
france ana to the Powers associated
! win her against the two Kaisers. The
! .atr Government also permitted the
herman submarines, N route from
Wilhelmshafen to the Levant, by the
Lay OF Biscay. to replenish their stocks
OF oil, provisions and even munitions
az various ~ the smaller ports on the
western coast Of Spain.
1t has facilitated the dissemination
o. mendac!ous news prejudicial to
france and TO her Allies and favorable
10 Germany, while on several oc-
V'fsin has actually been published on
VI" oilolil authority on one or an
otoer oi the great Government depart
Ments az .iadr!d. Thus in one in
stance il was officially announced on
NE authority OF Senior Dato's Minister
~ u" Interior that Great Britain was
maN!hS separate peace proposals on
we basis Of the cession of AlgierS
ma oi the Belgian Congo. as well a
'd Idrs" var indemnity to Germany,
VIM" IA" Minister Of Foreign AFFAIRS
" ID" bow defunct Conservative
'''.Net officially announced a year
CO. ~ the strength Of IA Berlin des-
'"'n' mat the French had sustained a
''"Shlns defeat under the very walls
ana ~ the suburbs Of Paris, although,
'N is VOL knOW'n, the Germans
''' u'tr'r 10 the French metropolis
man '"mpicgne, whence they were
'o'''d ~ retreat.
StG...H ...iIt.t-, $780,. r., .i,.-. -.