Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17

swept through the streets without
interference. Police were disinclined
to take action despite the existence
Of martial Law.
BY the Associated Press.
MADRID, April 17.-Three ministers
arrived in Barcelona by airplane and
Immediately went into conference with
Col. Francisco Macia, Provisional Presi-
dent of the new Catalonian republic,
! relative to the status of the Catalonian
republic with respect to the central
government.
The three ministers were Indalecio
Prieto. minister of finance; Fernando de
Los Rios, minister Of justice, and
Nicolau Deliver, minister of economy.
They we're accompanied by Senior Car
rasco, delegate of Col. Maeia, who few
here yesterday to confer with the
President Of the Madrid government,
Don Niceto AIcala zamora.
Amicable solution Seen.
An amicable solution Of the Catalonian
question Is certain to be reached For
eign Minister Lerroux OF the new Span
ish Republic told the Associated Press
today.
The solution which is being proposed,
the foreign minister said, Is to permit
Catalonia to call itself q republic If it
insists on doing so, while 1t actually
would continue to function as an
autonomous province within the
Spanish Republic, not insisting on
separate recognition by foreign govern
ments.
The Constituent Assembly OF the re-
public, still to be elected, will decide the
precise form Of government for Spain,
including the question of whether Cata-
lonia, the Basque Provinces. Valencia
and Galicia are to be states within
federal union like the United States, or
whether the organization should be
more like that of the French republic
without distinct regional states.
Attack ON Details Renewed.
Catalonia and Spain are not going
to split, Of that you may be sure. For
eign Minister Lerroux said.
Meanwhile President Alcala and his
ministers renewed their attack on q
mass Of administrative details.
Madrid and other cities were without
disturbances and to all outward appear
ances had returned to normal life.
However. business Is generally slow and
depressed and the general disposition Is
to await Developments, making no deals
that can be postponed.
The Spanish peseta ranged In value
around 10 to the dollar in actual trans
actions. Stocks, with some exceptions,
have generally declined and trading was
nervous and uncertain.
Heavy Demands Tax Banks.
Banks continued to receive heavy de-
mands from wealthy Spaniards seeking
to have money and securities sent
abroad. 1t was reported that the gov
eminent may take steps to prevent or
limit the export of such items and pos
sibly to close the frontiers against the
exodus Of the wealthy classes.
Many palaces Of the grandees in Mad
rid and other cities have been closed
and the families have departed or were
preparing to leave Outbound trains
are crowded with aristocrats and
wealthy persons leaving the country and
others are leaving by automobile, many
to France and some to Portugal.
Republicans Confident.
The Republicans are confident that
they will win the elections, for which
Alfonso is waiting, but their exact date
or their character has not been de-
cided. These may take the form of
direct vote by the people on the eStab-
lishment of a republic or a monarchy
or the selection Of a new Parliament,
with the voters choosing between Re-
publican and Monarchist candidates for
Deputies and Senators.
The situation in the basque provinces,
where a separatist movement also Is
under foot. was said today to be not so
serious as that represented by establish
ment Of a provisional government In
Barcelona.
The oficial gazette today published
a decree naming Nicolau Deliver min
lister Of economy. He is Catalonian
himself and his collaboration with the
cabinet was regarded here as sign that |
prospects of settlement of the dispute
were brighter.
Diplomats Resigning.
The government has decided to abol-
ish the permanent wing Of the Senate,
or upper house of the Cortes. This
consisted Of members elected for life
by the King. enjoying senatorial rank
by virtue of their station in life In
cluded were cardinals, grandees of
Spain, captains general Of the army
and navy and the president Of the Su-
preme Court.
designations have been received from
practically all the diplomatic corps who
enjoyed Office under the monarchy,
among them Ambassador Padilla y Bell
OF Washington. All were voluntary ex-
cept that of Ambassador Quinones de
Leon ct Paris, who was declared to be
no longer in office.
The minister of interior, Miguel
Maura, announced today that the Condo
de Guadalhorce, former minister of pro-
motion: Jose Calvo Sotelo, minister of
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