Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-14
BERiEE:NGUER QUITS
AS SPAIN PREMIER
Alfonso Cancels Elections as
Liberals Block Plans and
E Cabinet Resigns.
Nv the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
MADRID, February 14.-The gov
eminent of Premier Gen. Damaso
Berenguer, successor to the Primo de
Rivera dictatorship, fell today, bringing
to a head a crisis which appeared to be
the most dangerous of any faced by
King Alfonso in the course of his long
reign.
The King. accepting the resignation
Of Gen. Berenguer and his cabinet, can
celed parliamentary elections which
were scheduled for March l and Is and
began conferences with political leaders
with a view to formation of new cab
met
It was not certain whether new
cabinet could be put together today or
would require several days. Meanwhile
the -Berenguer cabinet will continue.
While the cabinet had been under
fire from its inception in January 1880,
the situation which brought its fall de-
veloped only late last night, when the
Count of Romanones withdrew support
of the cabinets election program.
Liberals Block Plans.
De Romanones. a former premier, and
the Marquis de Alhucemas, both Liberal
Morarchists, issued a statement that
they would participate in the forthcom-
ing elections because they believe that
abstention would set a bad precedent.
but that upon converting OF the Cortes,
or Parliament they would ask its dtsso-
luton and conVocation of a convention
to write new Spanish constitution.
The election program, which King
= Il Il T1,l%. o,.rsH Nr-iYA o.
ing parliamentary rule after seven years
of dictatorship and virtual dictatorship,
had already been under fire from ex-
trenaist elements who had voted not to
participate in the balloting. De Roma
nones, therefore, left the government
with little backing with which to pro-
coed.
Gen. Berenguer has been suffering re-
Gently with an infected foot, which pre-
vented his going far from his quarters,
and King Alfonso, apprised of the de-
velopments, called there shortly before
IL am. for a conference. The resigna-
tions were proffered then and accepted.
King Seeks Successor.
Immediately thereafter the entire
cabinet convened with the King pres
ent to discuss the situation, and his
majesty began conferences to find
new leader as quickly as possible.
In view of growing republican agita-
ton, the depressed state of the cur
rency and increasing internal dissatis-
faction, the crisis was viewed here as
most grave and one in which the throne
itself is threatened.
The Kings problem now Is to set
up some stop-gap government until
new elections program can be worked
out, and, equally important, the issue
of a constitutional convention can be
decided It is believed that the King
wants no constitutional convention now.
The new cabinet, it was indicated,
will be composed Of coalition repre-
senting all the monarchist parties.
Admiral Juan Bautista Aznar APP
parently is being considered by the
King for the premiership. He was
minister of the navy when Primo de
Rivera established his dictatorship. and
since he has not been active in partisan
politics recently and is regarded as
political neutral. He probably would be
satisfactory to the several political
groups.
Despite the political situation. the
peseta rallied slightly today and was
quoted at 1905 to the dollar. Yester-
days quotation was 1920.