Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-09

! of the dictatorship virtually hanging
/! in the balance. Finally they decided 1t
was impossible to concur with the
Kings demand and offered their resig-
nation. Actually. behind the scenes and
without public knowledge, the Rivera
government had done the unbelievable
and resigned.
But apparently King Alfonso did not
have another alternative at hand. He
expressed his unchanged belief that
clemency should be shown to political
prisoners, but he asked Rivera to re-
main. The King, it was reported, ndi-
| Gated his mistaken confidence in the
dictator. Once again the Spanish die
tatorship was given lease on life.
King Adopts New Attitude.
At the moment when this is writ
| ten it is impossible to state accurately
| to what this important incident may
| lead. Nevertheless. it is inescapably
clear that Alfonso has adopted new
and stronger attitude toward the die
tator and that he has decided the time
! has come when ne is justified in max
ing his own influence felt. In Spain
today, as a result of this event. no
one knows exactly what is going on be-
hind the scenes. but the path is open
for wide speculation. Here is new and
significant evidence that the star of
Primo Gle Rivera is on the wane. If
events should suddenly come, precipi-
tating a definite break between Primo
and the King. the dictatorship will in
all likelihood be even shorter lived than
most observers have expected.
A1.-
judgment of many that a Fascistized
type of dictatorship would eventually
weaken it and that he cannot afford TO
postpone his contemplated reforms
much longer One of the chief criti-
cisms of Rivera, which one finds here,
is the fact that for five years he has
promised new constitution and new
laws, but that, in all appearances, they
are very little if any nearer today than
they were several years ago. Primo, 1t
is charged, has always said that the
constitution would be drawn and adopt
cd in another two or three years. He
now seems determined to push this
project and its associated reforms. 1t
appears equally clear that it will be ex-
pedient and the course of wisdom for
him to do so.
Says Spain Wants Change.
In the words of one Spanish jour-
nalist, who is not bitterly antagoniStic
to the dictator: Spain in general
wants a change in regime. She wants
normally, a legal government and a
modern constitution. We do not want
civil war or bloodshed, but we do want
an honest election and return to
Parliamentary government. The Span
ish people do not want return to the
ancient normality,' which was corrupt
ed and decadent. We want an adj
vance over the past We want to see
Spain with government as representa-
tive, modern and just as many other
European nations have. OF course that
cannot come until the dictatorship is
ended"
Here in Madrid one hears the names
of two or three possible successors to
Primo de Rivera, whether his ultimate
departure be swift or somewhat re-
tarded. Many believe it most probable
that the first constitutional govern
ment" will be Conservative one,
slightly liberalized, and headed by a
political leader capable of reconciling
the opposing elements. This govern
ment, they say, may be one of transit
ton, but in that role it should best be
able to restore legality and initiate a
new Parliament 1t is rather early, it
is true, to speculate upon such things.
But the fact that such events are en-
visaged by the large section of public
opinion is significant in tself.
AS has been indicated previously, 1t
is entirely impossible to estimate in
weeks or months the future tenure of
Primo de Rivera, which may be any,
thing from few weeks to another year
Off not probable, then still possible
even two. Yet there is at least one
important factor which makes an i'm
mediate fall of an dictatorship seem
unlikely and it is foreshadowed by
AlfonSo's compromise with Primo on
February 16.
Unless greater sources of friction are
still at work beneath the surface 1t
appears that one reason, more than
any other, contributed to patching up
this first breach between throne and
dictator. This is the same reason which
may give Primo few months more
Of respite before a new and stronger
drive against him is launched.
Spain Awaits Expeditions.
Fore more than year the chief
thought and united effort of Spain has
been directed toward the great inter-
national expositions which are to be
held this Spring at Seville and BARGE
Iona. These mammoth expositions are
intended to set forth, as never before,
the entire range of Spanish industry,
tradition and art. The Seville EXPOSE
ton, first scheduled to open on March
Is in that beautiful ancient city, was
postponed in the midst of the recent
political crisis to be inaugurated al
most two months later on May 7. That
at Barcelona will open week later,
May Is.
Millions of pesetas have been ex-
pended for the success of these ex-
positions, not only by the supporters
of Primo de Rivera. but by politicians
and business men of every political
party and every shade of opinion. The
Spanish people have made united
effort to show the glories of Spain to
the world in an uneXcelled manner
Thousands of tourists, accordingly, are
expected to descend upon the Spanish
peninsula during the months of April
and May. Their presence Will enrich
SPANS industries and shopkeepers
hotels and tourists agencies by vast
sums. In word, Spain has made a
tremendous investment in the Seville and
Barcelona expositions, to which an
acute political crisis would do untold
harm.
The fall of the dictatorship during
the UrapLyS iT1farvpniY1ey heforo tho ovro