The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-18
SPANS UNITY
ASSURED; SPLIT
DANGER OVER
Catalonia Agrees to Be-
come Integral Part of
Republic.
AMPLIFY CHURCH BREAK
Complete Separation Policy
to Be Adhered To,
Ministers Say.
BY JOHN DEGANDT,
United Press stan Correspondent

MADRID, April 18.-The unity Of
Spain under the republican gov
eminent was assured today with
settlement Of the problem of Ca
talonian autonomy.
Catalonia will be an integral part
Of the republic and details of its
government system will be worked
out by the forthcoming constitu-
tional assembly, the provisional
cabinet of Niceto Alcala Zamora
said in announcing successful con-
cluSion of negotiations at Bar
celona.
simultaneously. the cabinet reit-
Grated and amplified its policy Of
separation of church and state.
The ministers decided to request
all members of the clergy to refrain
from mixing religious affairs and
political affairs. The cabinet also
decided that all government officials
would abstain from official partici-
patton in religious ceremonies, as
was the custom under the monarchy
which supported the Catholic
church.
Neutrality Is Pledged
1t was emphasized, however, that
the government would extend all
courteSieS to the ecclesiastical au-
thorities and that the ministers
themselves would remain strictly
neutral in regard to religious af-
fairs.
The problem Of autonomous gov
eminent for the Basque provinces
also was in process of solution, it
was announced by the government
ministers, who also said all financial
obligations undertaken by the mon
archical government would be rec
ognized.
The announcement was expected
to strengthen the peseta on the
exchange.
The cabinet discussed the Cata-
lonian problem for hours Friday
night while representatives were in
Barcelona negotiating with Fran
cisco Macia. head of the Catalonian
government.
The meeting was interrupted when
a telephone call from Barcelona an
nounced an agreement had been
reached.
Agrees to Respect Pact
Marcia agreed to adhere to the
pact signed with Madrid republic
ans at San Sebastian. under which
Catalonian republicans agreed to
work with the Madrid faction and
to remain in the republic, permit
ting the constitutional assembly to
work out details of the new govern
ment system.
The government at Barcelona,
which acted Immediately to nuIlify
action taken toward establishment
Of a separate republic, will be as
Sured OF the right to carry out its
plans for autonomy.
The Catalonians, however, pledged
themselves to abide by the assem-
bly, decision, and not to attempt to
use force in the future to split the
republic.
Berenguer Offers to Surrender
1t was announced there had been
no disorders in any part of Spain
IN the last thirty-six hours.
General Damaso Berenguer. for
mer dictators, returned to Madrid,
asking that the government detain
him to answer to charges of re-
STionsibility for the execution Of
Captain Fermin GaIan and Captain
Garcia Hernandez, leaders of the
Jaca rebellion, who have been made
martyrs" by the republicans.
There recently has been much Bit
terness against Berenguer. but the
interior minister declined to de-
tain him. Berenguer said he would
be ready to surrender whenever hs
was wanted.