Evening star., 1927-09-06
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

For many years the Spaniards had
been fighting a bloody defense of their
control over Morocco. Gen. de rivera
decided to undertake to bring that
war to a successful issue by assuming
personal command in the field against
ADD -el-Krim. He was making falr
headway, when the Moroccans made
the blunder of attacking French out
| posts, thereby bringing French CO.
operation with Spain, which finally
resulted in defeat of Abd-el-Krim $
forces.
In 1925, two desperate conspiracies
undertook to assassinate the King and
all of the De Rivera government, and
evidence at the trials showed that the
conspirators were men of high politi-
cal standing, indicating that the un-
rest was serious.
When the military directorate was
succeeded by civilian ministers, the
King thanked the generals and army
for their faithful performance, and
warned them to keep out of politics
thereafter. The generals had accom-
plished no great reforms, but they
had improved highways and railroads
and encouraged the Improvement of
then that during the directorate 300,-
ica to escape military duty.
X y y X
The key to De Rivera's policy now
is to oust international control of Tan
gier and to take over that country as
part of Spain's protectorate in Africa.
He says: IF we do not succeed in this.
it will be a question whether, seeing.
that the honor of our arms has now.
been brilliantly vindicated it is worth
our while to continue expending treas
ure to maintain an international Tan
gier, a focus of intrigue and base
for the rearmament of the tribes.
Those who do not see the problem in
that light are blind, and will weep for
their error, for it will not be long be-
fore Tangier gives rise to grave inter-
national difficulties"
If Spain withdraws from Tangier, Y
will change the status quo of the Med
portant moves by Mussolini, as we'll as
by France and England. Ten years
ago, when Gen. de Rivera was Gov
ernor of Cadiz, he made a speech built
around his proposal to trade Ceuta, an
African village and potential fortress
equal to Gibraltar. in exchange for
Gibraltar; "Ceuta for Gibraltar, and
to hell with the rest of the Spanish
protectoratew De Rivera was court
martialed for that speech.
Although the British admiralty has
never indicated willingness to make
such trade, there Is no sign that
De Rivera has changed his views.
now that he has power to carry
out his suggestion, provided 1t met
with British approval.
Spain has withdrawn from the
League of Nations.
X X X X
Theoretically, the Spanish mon
archy is a co-sovereignty, exercised
jointly by the King and the nation.
Now that the King, under the new
constitution, is to select all members
power will be more absolutely in
his hands than before. There will
be no divided party, no free speech,
no free press and no Opposition" to
be tolerated. The King becomes an
absolute monarch, by and through
the aid of the dictator who will ex-
ercise that absolutism.
Holding rank even above De Rivera,
so far as concerns the military, Is
Capt. Gen. or Marshall Weyler-he
Of Cuban bitter memory-and he is
an avowed and jealous enemy of the
dictator. BY reason of his rank, Capt.
Gen. Weyler retains active duty as
long as he lives. Last Spring, Weyler
was implicated in the conspiracy
against the government and was
heavily fined, but he was of too ex-
alted rank to be confined in prison,
so, ever since, he has been kept under
surveillance. While Gen. de Rivera is
only SIS years of age, he is reported
as aging rapidly under his stress of
power. He collaborates Loyalty with
King Alfonso. aged 40, and, with the
increased arbitrary power, 1t is as
sumed that he expects to continue to
rule.
Copyright 1927 by Paul v. Collns.>