Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-18
SPAIN'S PREDICAMENT

HNHRLE years ago, in April. 1916, Count
l. Romanones was cheered by all the
Liberal factions of Spain when he de-
clared: silence at present is "A crime, for
II we wait until the moment Of victory to
show our sympathy for the victor it is
probable that we shall be too late. The
present hours are so grave and important
that 1t is necessary for Spain to make a
solemn declaration"
Eight months later Count Romanoues
became Premier of Spain. He remained
premier until about this time last year.
Yet he was unable to make when in Of.
flee the Solemn declaration" he had adj
vised when out of office. The tangled
mazes Of German intrigue which bound
and confined him may never be entirely
known or understood outside of Spain.
one thing at least we know: that the
note to Germany in reply to the German
declaration of Unrestricted U.boat warfare
on January 81, 1917. although it caused
the Romanones ministry to fall, also caused
a strong wave of pro- Entente sentiment
to sweep over Spain. For during the
month of May, 1917, there we're mass.
meetings in nearly every building in Spain
and, although more than 900 900 Spanards
heard eloquent speakers denounce Ger
many and praise the Allies nowhere was
there disorder. Yet French journalist
had asserted not very long before that
King Alfonso had said to him: "Only and
the rabble are with you. All the rest Of
Spain is for the Germans"
on May 81, 1917, 10000 people in the
bull ring of Madrid passed the following
resolutions:
First Spain cannot remain Indifferent
to and isolated from the European con-
fiict.
Second. Spain must decide upon her
international policy toward Great Britain
and the other Allies.
Third. Owing to the outraEes com.
mitted by Germany upon Span's neu.
trality Spain must break diplomatic re.
latons with that nation and accept all
the consequences which may arise from
the attitude which Spain finds herself
obliged to adopt in defense of her dig.
nifty.
But Premier Prieto paid no heed to the
growing sentiment of which these resolu-
tons were indicative and Spain continued
neutral.
Can she longer remain neutral now that
Germany, probably recognizing the failure
of her subterranean propaganda and de-
termned to bring things to an ISSUE has
made her new threat Of a submarine
blackade because of Spain's commercial
treaty with this country?
1t does not seem possible. Yet the Ger
man pressure appears so entirely unwise
that Germany may have some hope that
a coup detat, rendered possible by the dis.
order following her threat, may result in
Spain declaring war not with but against
the Allies. The German mind-ve have
had sufficient eXperience-works in that
way. 1t has so far worked wrong. But
with the peculiar nature Of the Spanish
temperament and of present Spanish con.
dltions there is bare chance that some
sinister German program might prove
temporarily successful.
more likely result however. Is that
the indignation Of Spain, which has been
stirred by previous insults. NAV reach -
point which will result in Spain Joining the
Allies. 1t is a conflict between nobility and
opportunism, for both of which Epain has
at various times stood. Spain could do
deadly disservice TO the Allies at the rrcs
ent fateful moment. Or by joining the AL
lies with her welltrained and equipped
forces she could unquestionably shorten
the war and help bring Germany to her
knees.
Spain dreams even yet of being the
heart of great Pan-Latin world group
She hopes to bear to the newer Latin
nations the relation England bears to the
English-speaking world. The men control.
ling Spain look to see her regain her old
eminence. That dream may possibly come
true If she puts the Allies in her debt. Al
this distance we can see very clearly that
it will never come true If she permits her.
seslf to be entangled in the vicious Ger
man meshes.