New-York tribune., 1917-07-31

The advertised revolution IN opaih' ""''"'
according to dispatches from Paris and Lon
don, was a matter Of hours, has obdursteIy
refused 70 materallze. II is q fact, however
that tho public and the newspapers In Great
Britain and France belioved-and still believe
that a revolution in Spain Is imminent, that
King Alfonso is sitting on volcano and that
unless he joins the Entonte In the war he
will lose his throne and will have to Join the
former King Constantine somewhere IN
Switzerland.
Such belief is based on two facts. One the
lack OF news from Spain in Paris and London
For several days during tho recent troubles
in Barcelona, WI =, in fact, made matters
look very bad 70. the Spanish government
for a while, not word was printed in the
French and British papers and wild rumors
were spread. IL was generally believed that
the Spanish censorship was responsible for
the lack of telegraphic news. But it is a
queer thing that at that time the papers in
Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Cuba printed
their regular cable news from Spain and the
public south Of the United States was accu-
rately informed Of the situation. The other
fact on which the forecast was based was the
presence of well-known international agi-
tators in Spain, especially in Barcelona.
The revolutionary movement, if there was
one, has failed so far. This does not mean,
however, that the situation in Spain is not
hazardous and full of dangers. 1t Is true that
just before the troubles at Barcelona took
the lead in the Spanish situation it looked
as il the country was on the verge Of being
swallowed by the European turmoil. Il was 9
few weeks ago. While the ajority of the cOun-
try favored neutrality, nearly all the leaders of
the political parties had boldly and strongly
taken their positions in favor either Of Ger
many or the Allies. The pro-Germans were
losing ground steadily, owing TO the sub
marine campaign. Then a big meeting was
called, to be held at the large bullring in
Madrid. The leaders Of the different parties
were expected TO express their stand on the
question of Spanish neutrality The speech
Antonio Maura was expected 10 deliver drew
t. crowd @: over twenty thousand people to
tina big arena. Maura, ,withstanding his
past mistakes, which excluded him from the
Spanish government for nearly a decade, is
still considered the strongest, the most hon
est, fearless and straightforward politician
in Spain. As outspoken as Roosevelt is, he
has also, in common with the American lead
er, that subtle and highly developed instinct
that permits him to anticipate the direction
in which the wind of public opinion blows
an instinct which psychologists consider an
indispensable requirement for a successful
politician.
Maura's Great Speech
I,,II A hill =
speaker he is, and his address is still being
commented on and praised as the best effort
in his long public life He had so far not COM
mitted himself on the matter of Spanish neu-
trality. He had everybody guessing, and for
nearly fortnight people all over Spain
asked each other "What is Maura going to
tell?" He spoke and yet took no position
either on the side of Germany or the Allies.
1t is true, he admitted, Spain had large
economic interests in common with France
and Great Britain. He told the pro-Germans
frankly that the country could not, without
seriously endangering its own life, take up
arms against the Entente. lie also told those
who urged the country to join the Entente
that Spain had received no special marks Of
friendship from the Allied powers. There
were, he said, two questions between Spain
and France and England which had never
been solved satisfactorily-rGibr and
Morocco. But he added Immediately that it
was neither right nor fair for Spain to take
advantage Of the present situation to make a
bargain and exchange her neutrality for the
recognition of her historic privileges on the
Strait of Gibraltar. Spain could not join
the Allies as a squire for the Entente powers.
"If Spain did that" he exclaimed, 81 would
cease to be a Spaniard."
If. at any time the effort of man has been
decisive in influencing public opinion, TINS
was the case. In fact, since Maura Delivered
his remarkable speech the question OF Span
ish neutrality has been settled, at least for a
long time 10 come. IL was his speech that
permitted the new Premier, Eduardo Dato, to
stick to the policy of neutrality without be-
ing furiously attacked by the pro-AlIIed press,
and he has been able to rule without either
calling or dissolvlng Parliament.
Therefore the international danger has at
least been made more remote. The internal
danger, however, is on the increase. Spain
is in what may be called "pre-revolution-
airy" condition, not on account OF the inter-
national matters, but on account Of most
complicated political and economic situation.
Spains Commercial Losses
A serious economic unrest, caused by the
disturbed conditions created by the war, ex
lists all over the country Spain has lost
about 10 per cent of her shipping and large
proportion of her export trade. Fruit grow
ers, who had a profitable market in Hamburg
and London, have seen their fruits rot on the
trees because Hamburg is closed and England