Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-11
DICTATOR TO END
REGIME IN SPAIN
Rivera Tells of Plan for
Strong Parliament and
Civil Liberties.
BY LELAND STOWE,

BY Gable to The Star.
MADRID, February 11.-Gen. Primo
de Rivera, who Saturday followed up
his recent decree abolishing freedom of
the press with one forbidding public
criticism of his regime declared off,
cially yesterday for the first time his
intention to draw to a close as rapidly
as possible his dictatorship over Spain.
In an exclusive interview with the
Herald Tribune correspondent, Europes
most amiable dictator announced that
he would restore constitutional govern
ment and resign within two or two and
a half years. declaring that his only
purpose was to institute "a strong Par
lament, representative of the true
opinion of the Spanish people,"
At the same time the premier gave
the lie to widely current reports of
breach between himself and King AL
fonso XIII and denied the existence of
widespread animosity toward his regime.
Kings Portrait Over Desk.
In his spacious office in the Minis
terio del Ejercito, overlooking the beau
tiful Plaza de CASTELAR,, SPANS ST.
year-old dictator and premier sat at
his desk Directly behind and above
him was a splendid oil painting of
King Alfonso, placed there as if mute
ly testifying to the Kings unreserved
approval of and participation in the
dictatorship.
"Our greatest remaining task is to
draft and inaugurate constitution
and legal reforms. 1t is in these that
I look to the completion of my work.
1--WE shall prepare, first, the project
for new constitution; second, law
of public order; third, project of cleo
toral reform; fourth, law of associ-
atoms, and, fifth, laws of regulations
for the press.
when all are ready we shall sub
nit them to the whole country in a
referendum, and II the nation APP
proves we shall convoke new assembly
and a new constitutional government.
81 want strong and truly repre-
sentative Parliament, in which all Sec
tons of public opinion will participate
Months Of Study Required.
To do this, explained the dictator, 1t
would be necessary for the present As
sembly to propose the new constitution
and laws to the government. The gov
eminent would require three or four
months for study and revision OF the
projects, after which they would be
placed before the country.
How long would this take?" the
correspondent inquired.
'1 hope that before 1882 we shall
have finished our task completely, both
the constitution and all the compile
mentary laws. But I don't think it will
require three years. No. in two years,
or perhaps thirty months I shall have
finished"
What will you do them"
when the new constitution and laws
are adopted it will remain for the King
and the people to choose government.
I shall resign and give way to those
younger and less fatigued.
Despite the fact that he was soon to
declare himself overburdened with his
responsibilities as dictator and anxious
to relinquishe power, there was nothing
in his mien or bearing to betray such
feeling. If the events Of the last two
weeks were sufficiently serious to cause
him to resort to the most drastice de-
crees yet inaugurated in the five and
a half years of his rule, nothing in
Gen. de Rivera's bearing gave evidence
of deep concern.
(Copyright, 1929