Evening star., 1925-12-05

Court-ior refusing 70 accept dicta-
tion in the administration of the law.
In a famous book by the eXiled
Spanish writer. Vicente Blasco lbanez.
entitled Alfonso Tnmd Sked, - the
author says:
The monarchy was determined to
flatter the army and shape it 10 il
own likeness so as to be sure of its
support. As soon as the army diScON-
cred il was indispensable To the rulers
it demanded. -throught its juntas. in
crea sed pay and eXtravagant priVi-
legeS. and. finally. succeeded in estah-
fishing in the very heart of the nation
u special class with certain definite
privileges. As q result. the Spa niSh
army has succeeded in making its po-
sition both intangible and imprecna BILE.
In Spain one can freely argue against
anything. even the Almighty, but the
man who ventures to oppose any act
to prison and brought up before a mill
tary tribunal. even though the Of
fender may be civilian
As soon as the officers of the army
became fully conscious of their power
their arrogance Swelled to such di
menSionS that they began to treat with
the King more or less as an equal, and
finally to give him orders. But AL
fonSo NIII. looking on the army as his
as that OF his family, gave in re
signedly to demands which he believed
were OF a temporary nature. Surely he
would be able to control the country
much better through his soldiers than
he had ever been able to do through
his civilian subjects"
Under the military dictatorship the
Riff War has not been brought TO a
victorious conclusion. as had been
promised more than two years ago.
For 10 years Spain has maintained in
North Africa an army of from 100 900
TO $4,000. lighting semf-savages num-
berlnS only 5000 or 5000. 1t is claim
ed that owing to the uncontrolled ex-
traVaGanceS and graft of the military
and the recent increase Of the pav
of officers the budget has nearly
doubled in the last two years and
taxes are uncomfortable.
There has been growing discomfort
even in military circles. and mont h
ago conspiracy against DE Rivera
was discovered. The Military Club
was raided, resulting in the arrest of
several officers, including a colonel
of De RiVera'S own staff
The Catalinian culture committee
formed In opposition to Dictator de
rivera, has published a letter chars-
ing political prosecutions" in BARGE.
| Iona, caused by "the group of in
surgent generals which seized the gov
ernment of Spain in September, 1923.
and formed dictatorship, after sup
pressing the constitutional guarantees
violating the most elementary rights
or man and destroying every vestice
! of personal freedom
The Culture Clubs letter adds thar
the right of criticism is non-eXistent
as it is considered an attack on state
| policy, and it further cites that Parlia-
ment has been suppressed for two
years and all prov vincial and municipal
officials elected by the people have
been replaced by obscure individuals
| appointed by the military -
| Under such conditions the Culture
Club argues that Spain is violating
the democratic principles and ideals
of all civilized countries" and. there
| fore, has no right TO be tolerated hv
| the League of Nations" In fact II
says that the League of Nations is
| morally responsible before the world
| for a situation in direct contradiction
to the leagues principles, ideals and
| interests"
| Under the policies of the military
| dictatorship, tariff war between
| spain ana germany prevents ship
ment of Spain,s grapes to Germany.
her best market, except the former
one in the United States. The result
is that upon the docks of Spain 800.
600 barrels of grapes are now decav-
ing. All but two provinces are suf.
fering unprecedented stagnation of
industries and commerce, while taxes
| show no tendency toward reduction.
Some time ago De Rivera began or.
SanizinG a Civilian Patriotic Union.
and he has promised that he will turn
over the government to that body. The
new cabinet, which he heads, is com
posed OF young men, and it is openly
charged that the new government
with a suspended constitution. will he
the tool of the King and Dictator de
Rivera. even more than was the mil,
itary regime.
iCepvrl2ht laNh hx Paul Y caaa>.l