New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-23
Germany Offered
Spain Gibraltar
To War on Allies
Morocco and Portugal Also
Were to Have Been Prizes,
Ex-Piemier Reveals E.
fsuH Correspmdencsl


WASHINGTON, Sept. 22.-That Ger
many offered Morocco, Gibraltar and
Portugal to Spain for entering the war
against the Allies Is the sensational dis
closure made by the Spanish ex-Premier,
Count Romanones, in the course OF
special interview granted to the CORE
spondent Of the Rome "Tribuna." The
issue. in which the interview appeared.
has lust reached Washington. Count
Romanones, in explaining his resigna-
ton, said:
after mature reflection, have come
TO the conclusion that middle course
policy between the two groups Of bellis-
erents has been and Is absolutely i'm
possible for country like Spain, which
does not concern herself merely with
her own immediate interests, but seeks
definitely to determine her information
al position in the world after the war
It was then that decided to direct to
the King a message which ultimately
resulted in my breaking off with the
government To-day cannot but
fully approve what I had written at
that time, and am sure that in brief
time all my countrymen, beginning
with the Liberals, will hold the same
views as myself.
Backs Cause of Allies
"There is no doubt that Spain is to-
day aspiring TO number of reforms
which only an ultra-l!beral party can
give her. She especially aspires to a
democratic system of administration
and government, the lack of which has
/ been the cause CT SPANS isolation and
! decndence. She realizes that her
troubles derive from her singular po-
! sition in the great conflict which is
! now dividing the world into two camps,
/ each of which il following out its own
! social and political programme. An
evolution which would be limited to d
series of exclusively internal reforms
! and which would not adhere 70 one or
! the other of the two programmes,
would be vain, if not impossible.
/ Hence, it is absolutely necessary that
/ Spain should line up on the side OF
/ those powers with which she is united
, by indissoluble ties. This is the only
/ possible policy for the country, and |,
/ now free from responsibility to the
government. am glad to be able 20 pro-
claim it as the programme of the new
liberal party.
ITO speak, as some enthusiastic Ger
manophiles are doing, of SPANS help
ing the Central Powers-even if we
admit for a moment that Spain could
adhere to their social and political
programmes pure nonsense.
Even if she desired to do so, Spain
could not give any effective assistance
20 ustro-German armies, since she
is not in the possession Of the means
for that purpose.
Revolution Secuted
at has been said that a victory OF
the Central Empires would give Spain
great advantages and would enable her
after the conclusion of the war to be-
come one of the great powers OF Eu-
rope. Why should conceal from you
the fact that this tempting mirage has
been skilfully and insistently displayed
before the eyes of tie Spanish people
Morocco, Gibraltar and Portugal were
the gifts which were offered TO Spain.
mo. Let US leave similar reasonngs
10 the deluded and to those who cannot
see that the present immense conflict
will end in the triumph OF the peoples
which stand for social and political
liberty.
"You are asking me whether there