New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-20

Britain because they rcmcmpcr Glib
raltar. valuable corner OF Snanish
territory. which has since been in Eng
fish hands.
The most advanced elements Of the
nation, the Liberals. Republicans and
the majority Of the Moderate Social
lists. who are now all grouped under
the name OF Rcformists. arc decidedly
pro-Aly. Some Of the recognized lead
orS Of these groups made "a systematic
and most successful campaign lu favor
Of the Entente powers. Tho extremists
among them have gone SO far as 20
advocate SPANS entrance INTO the war
against Germany long before the rccA-
less submarine warfare was umcc
Contrary 20 what has occurred 800 most
neutral countries. an extensive pro
Ally propaganda has been carried on
in Spain 60 couEteract German actlV-
ties Many new publications have been
started TO propagate the ideas and
issues OF the war as seen by the Allies.
The German propaganda has, Of
course. its own organs. But II is in
visible. IL has been active in the Sc
crct military. bureaucratic and church
circles. I'm Spain it rs an open secret
that at the beginning Of the war Ger
many tried 70 induce Eduardo Dato.
thcr Premier. TO assume an attitude Of
open hostility toward France. BOO the
hope that. with the southern frontier
threatened. General Jofre would be
compelled 20 amass large army along
the Pyrcuccs and weaken his eastern
front. Germany made great and tempt
Ing promises to Spain. Gibraltar wa
10 be returned 20 Spain and the whole
Of Morocco. orcc the bone Of couten-
tion IN :he European concert. 20 be
placed under Spanish rule.
German influence has since been rap
idly declining. however. The internal
situation in Spain has meanwhile
grown difficult on account of the eco
uomic conditions arising from the war.
At the present time Spain mas her
hands full trying 20 solve domestic
troubles. The food question, the trans
portatiou and unemployment problems
are the main difficulties. Then the
fruit growers are almost ruined. the
markets for their products DOB Ger
many. France and England being closed
now The scarcity Of coal has scrl-
ously affected all Industries. German
submarine have destroyed about one
fifth Of the total Spanish tonnage. AS
a climax recent storms have ruined one
OF :he richest agricultural districts.
The ,workmcn, stirred by aC'tators
and p1opagandistS. have become mor'
and moro restless until they threatened
recently a general indefinite strike as
"A protest against the inactivity of tho
government IN face Of the national
crisis. Thanks 10 swift action hy the
the strike did not material
ize. but the unrest and dissatisfaction
continued
One Of the socialist leaders. Fran
cisco Largo Caballcro. IN a speech made
a short time ago. exclaimed: "It is no
longer a matter Of reducing the price
of bread and meat by a fraction of "a
cent. Il is something deeper. We must
break the iron ring that chokcs as the
political and economic system which
is cXhaustiuG Spain
Under the circumstances the fallen
Of Romanoncs could hardly
continue in power.
The resignation of tho Cabinet was the
only possible way for King Alfonso
to tide over the crisis. Whether Spain
viii be shaken by a revolution depends
largely upon the ability of the nov
Cabinet to cope with the crisis.