Evening star., 1933-12-27
Volatile Trend in Spain Laid
To Lack of Definite Policies

Balearic and Canary Islands-counls
2s,720,0O0 inhabitants Only 2ss,oo0
are listed as unemployed, and they are
distributed throughout the country.
President Alcala Zamora declared a
state of prevention'-modified martial
law-so that the civil authorities
quickly call for military support
Spain's chief executive nominally ad
heres to the Progressive Republican
Party-one of the more conservative
groups. Premier Martinez Bsrrios leads
the radicals, who are moderate in their
course. Catalonia exercises substantial
self-government, but is cooperating
with the Madrid authorities"
The anarchist elements" says the
Port Huron Times Herald. have been
busy in the effort to start a popular
uprising against the government, or to
create condition of chaos which will
give them an opening for political
coup. There have been numerous de-
termined but scattered revolts, with
much fighting and two or three hun
dred casualties The burning OF nu-
merouS churches indicates the very
definite and peculiarly communistiC
anti-relgiouS as well as anti-Repub-
lican character of the revolt. Although
it can hardly be said the government
has the situation we'll in hand, il
should not be possible for the revolt
tionists to gain any practical headway
against government supported by the
strong popular majority which the re-
cent elections showed"
With the strongest party no longer
in position to govern Spain" thinks
the Uniontown Herald, land with the
other parties broken up into 20 or 30
bitterly hostile factions and cliques. it
is obvious that the erection Of firm
and enduring government is still some
distance off The revolution was over
ripe when it came Spain is now pay
ing the penalty in the form of weak
governments and continued revolu-
tionary disturbances" The Herald sue-
gestS as an obvious reason for uncer
tainty; 'Since the extremist groups
have no financial resources Of their
own. 1t is supposed that they are being
supported by the Royalists. certain in
duStrialists and the leaders of tn"
embryonic Fascist movement, all Of
whom seem to have plenty Of money
though they lack courageous followers
of their own political faith. The re-
dictionaries, it is suggested, hope eitheI
to restore the monarchy or set up
Fascist dictatorship when the extrem-
iSt disorders have gone so far as 10
undermine the present government. We
do not pretend to know whether the
reactionRries are really financing the
SyndicaliStS and anarchists. Nor does
1t seem particularly important If they
are 1t is highly unlikely that the cur
rent wave of disturbances would have
spread SO far and taken such high
toll Of life were it not for the fact that
the extremists have the moral backing
of countless dissatisfied workers and
peasants. These we're the people who
made the revolution Of 1881. Thcv
saw in the establishment Of repuP-
lie the fulhllment of their own desire
Restlessness throughout the world x
cited by the Miami Daily News as an
explanation OF the disturbed condition
in Spain, with the conclusion that the
ultimate goal must be justice for all
elements in the citizenship, while the
Providence Bulletin concludes: "The
Spaniards have shown that they dis
trust democracy shot through with the
color OF Socialism: on the other hand.
they equally distrust return 10 the
monarchy. II will take years Of pam
and suffering before Spain finally
evolves workable political system TO
accord with the temperament and Gus
toms Of the people"