Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-05
SPAIN STAYS ALOOF
FROM LEAGUE, BUT
HAS NOT RESIGNED
Rivera Declares "Dignified
Abstention" Is Demanded
by Nations Prestige.
WAY CLEARED TO GIVE
GERMANY SEAT ALONE
Concession by France and Britain
on Tangier May Be Madrid
Cue to Return.

GENEVA, Switzerland September
4.-spain must persist in her attitude
of "diGnifled abstention'' from the ac-
tivities of the league assembly and
council. This pronouncement was
made by Gen. Primo de Rivera, the
Spanish premier. in reply to joint
message from NJ. BRAND, the French
foreign minister. and Sir Austen
Chamberlain, British foreign secre-
tary, urging Spain to take part in the
present sessions Of the league.
In his telegram the Spanish pre-
rnier says that his personal inclina-
tion would be for Spain to continue
10 sit in the council and assembly,
'were it not my duty to mount guard
over the prestige Of ancient. glorious
and we'll beloved Spain, who, rele-
gated to a rank below her own, must
seek a becoming attitude in her digni-
fed abstention.
II am convinced that our decision
will not compromise any interest or
principle Of the League of Nations,
whose prosperity Spain, her King and
her government desire most fer
vently"
Thanked for Consideration.
Primo de Rivera concludes by
thanking NJ. BRAND and Sir Austen
Chamberlain for the high consldera'
ton shown to Spain, saying:
II, therefore, cannot, to my deep
est regret, follow the lofty indication
Of your excellencies, as would have
been my desire"
In their joint note to the Spanish
premier the French and British for
eiSn ministers asked him "in the most
cordial and earnest manner to as
sure them that Spain's council seat
should not be vacated, lin order that
the royaI government may continue
TO contribute to the Geneva meetings
the precious aid Of it's high authority"
Germany to Enter.
Unless the plans of men go astray
again Germany this time really Will
enter the League Of Nations and take
her place around the council table on
"A footing of equality with the other
great powers who at Geneva discuss
matters Of world moment.
Today the council voted to give
Germany, and Germany alone, seat
on the council. and placed its seal
OF approval on the special commis-
eion's report. which refuses to accede
to the Spanish petition for a position
Of honor on the council similar to
that arranged for the Reich.
Despite the difficult position in
which Spain has placed herself by the
very earnestness of her demand for
a. permanent seat the opinion voiced
by many delegates tonight is that
Premier Primo de Rivera Will not
sever all ties With Geneva by officially
resigning league membership.
Tangier May Play Part.
The prevailing view is that the
Spanish premier will wait at least
to see what he can get from Eng
land and France in the way of greater
authority over Tangier before taking
The irrevocable step concerning the
league, whose leaders today abso
lutely refused to consider Tangier as
a league problem.
II is rare in European history that
such fattering tributes have been
paid to any nation as were showered
on Spain during the recent council
negotiations, and statesmen here fee
that Spanish national dignity and
prestige will be so satisfied that the
premier would hesitate to throw the
league aside and thus lose what docks
like an absolute certainty that Spair
will be elected TO q semi.permaEenI
seat in the council.
At the international labor Office to
day the special committee of the
World Court conference began a
turidical study of the American reser
vations. Final acceptance OF these
In some form is generally believed
10 be a probability.