The Washington herald., 1922-02-17
Cabinet Crisis in Spain.


n cabinet change in France, when NJ BRAND
gave way to NJ. Poincare, nor have we been with
out interest in the resignation OF Signor Bonom and
his cabinet in Italy and the subsequent difficulties
in getting cabinet The Italian situation was
particularly interesting because it greatly af
fected by expressions of sympathy the death of
Pope Benedict and because it had and still has
bearing uron the proposed Genoa conference. Yet,
in this country, have paid very little attention
to the cebinet crisis in Spain which had in j. the
very interesting element of military dictation to the
civil authorities. Our attention has been called,
now and then, to Spanish victories over the Moors
which TO occur a regular schedule. AS far
the cabinet crisis is concerned we gave it no
heed
The Economic Review of London, for January
II, the Spanish situation for the first half Of
January with regard to the cabinet crisis, as fol-
lows:
"Thc cabinet crisis has proved transient, the
King having expressed his confidence in Senior
Maura who retains office together with the whole
cabinet, including the minister of war, Senior La
Cierva, whose energetic resistance to interference
with his department by the military juntas species
of officers trade unions, brought matters head.
The Kings refusal to sign decree for the dissolu
ton of the untas the direct of the resig
nation of the ministry. Madrid messages the Brit
Of office, do not state whether his majesty has
vised his decision whether compromise with
the juntas has been effected, and Spanish papers
dealing with the solution of the crisis have not
yet come to hand On the announcement of Senior
Maura's resignation the press pointed to Senior
Sanches Guerra, president of the chamber, his
successor but politician seemed inclined to
sumo office as none saw his way clear to governing
the country under the constant of be-
4
tice by the military, one paper sarcastically
marking every decision of the minister of
war is the subject of a criticism by groups
of ieutenants.' All the politicians called into
consultation by the King appear to have advised
the dissolution of the juntas and the public far
it takes any interest in politics. is of the same
opinion One feature of the crisis is the resgna-
ton (or dismissaD OF the chief of the general staff,
Gen. Wey1er. The juntas formed at BARGE
Iona in 1917, for the purpose of redressng mili-
tary grievances, and when the government under
the Marquis dc Alhucenas declined to recognize
them, they forced it to resign under threat of
coup d'etat. Succeeding governments more less
openly recognized the existence of the officers
iuntas who however, vigorously opposed the
formation of similar organizations by the non-com-
mssioned officers. The juntas soon abandoned their
professional character and began to interfere in
politics causing the fall of the coalition govern
Inent under the Marquis de Alhucenas in March,
1918, and that of the liberal government of the
Count de Romanones, year later. They further
arbitrarily dismissed from the army officers of the
war school who declined to join them, the govern
ment being powerless to protect these officers. So
threatening was the juntas attitude in 1918 that
avert serious crisis, a coalition government of all
party leaders was formed under the leadership of
Senior Maura who at announced that if the
junas further interfered with politics, they would
be eradicated, threat which so far has not been
put in execution.
In the absence of definite information concern
ing the fate of the untas, it may be concluded that
the retention of Senior Maura by the King consti-
tutes at least partial victory of the civil authori
ties over the military The dictation to the civil
government by these Spanish military cliques their
ability to make and break governments, their
threats of coups detat if their orders are not
obeyed, remind us OF the naming of Roman en-
perors, the auction of the position of emperor
in one case, by the Pretorian Guard. This sort of
militarism is ntolerable the Anglo-Saxon tradi-
ton and has always been sternly opposed in
America 1t will be interesting to learn how great
a victory over the juntas has actually been won