Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-15
PRESIDENT AzANA
TAKES OVER RE|NS
Threats of Revolution Heard
in Madrid as AIcaIa
Zamora RetireS.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MADRID October IS. - President
Manuel Azana took possession OF hi
oficial ofnces today and called an ex'
traordinary meeting Of his new cabinet
to orient the administration in dealing
with vexing religious differences.
He spent an hour with retiring Pres
ident Niceto Alcala Zamora. listening
10 an explanation OF the routine con
nectsd with the ONCE. Then, with
hearty embrace, Senior Alcala zamors
wished his former minister Of war the
best of luck in his new venture and left
,, to 20 into private life.
Casares Quiroga. new minister OF the
interior. and Prof. Jose Giral, minister
of marine, took over their offices, com
pleting the transfer Of government.
Little Change Expected.
Senior Alcala zamora said he planned
to resume his law practice and to write
on his political experiences.
Newspapers were filled with details
and comments on the shake-up and Inc
sidewalk cafes hummed with converse
ton on its significance. It was the
ma iority opinion that Senior Azna's AS
sumption OF power would not greatly
change the policies Of the previous ad'
ministration.
Dispatches from the Basque and Ma
varre Provinces said their governors
had prohibited parades and meetings II
view of demonstrations by Catholics anc
cold IN hi
high In Bilbao, Tamplona and San Sc
bastian and police were strengthened
in the vicinity of converts and churches
Catholics Urge Action.
The Catholic agrarian bloc Of Depu-
ties in the National Assembly has re-
ceived thousands of kilograms from
their constituents in these sections de-
manding that they withdraw from the
Chamber
Monsignor FREDERICK Tedeschini. the
papal nuncio, called on the new PreSi-
dent but said they did not discuss the
new religious laws.
Senior Azana is my old friend" he
said and he is one OF the foremoS,
authorities in Spain on Italian ques-
tons. My only comment on the re-
! ligious problem is that the church car
be wounded. but she bears no enmity
toward anybody"
Says Republic Is Firm.
President Azana told the Associated
! Press the republic is immovable. We
are as strong as If we had held power q
long time. Our fundamental missions
consists of fabricating great, strong
justice for all The government is re-
publican. but the republic is for al
| SpaniardS"
The change in authority was accom-
panied by vigorous demonstration:
against the church and threats OF revolt
against the government. Bands OF Com
munists and anti-Clericals ranged
through the streets, shouting violence
to Catholicism and the Jesuits. Police
engaged in running fights with them.
dizen or more were badly beaten and 6
score were arrested.
Rumors of revolution drifted dowI
from the strong Catholic province o
Basque and Navarro.
Seen as Victory for Left"
The resignation of Alcala Zamori
was interpreted as a defeat for tn
Right faction of the assembly. which
had favored a Republic similar to tn
United States and France. and AS
triumph for the Left wing. which lean
toward Socialist conceptions of gov
eminent. property and religion.
Senior Azana is so years old, a law
yer and an admirer of American Gus
toms AS minister of war he slasheo
the Spanish army in half and dis
missed high officers right and left. H,
has long been an anti-monarchist anC
was an important figure in the over
throw of Alfonso III.
The Change in government had littl,
reaction in financial circles. bankers
reported today. The Peseta. which ha!
been quoted around LOS to the dolla
for several weeks, was listed at Ill:
today.