Evening star., 1933-07-29

Differences among the nations in the
observance Of customs are found to be
worthy Of attention as q result of the
international incident of the American
tourists who were imprisoned on the
island Of Majorca for six weeks and
then admitted to bail after the United
States Government had made repre-
sentations to Spain. The trouble is laid
largely to the failure Of the small party
guard and the principle that an attack
on that Official Is equivalent to an at
tack on the government itself.
"Majorca has been a favored retreat"
says the Oakland Tribune, "for artists
and others who would escape q busy
world and find scenes of quiet and
peace" That paper advises that had
the residents there been jealous, as our
resorts are, in efforts to exploit the as
sets which have drawn the visitors, they
would have thought twice before they
clapped five Americans into jail" The
Tribune admits. however, that perhaps
3 magazine article which one of the
sojourntng Americans wrote, accusing
the Majorcans of binding canaries that
they might sing the better, added a
resentment which made the six weeks
Imprisonment seem admirable It Is
concluded that after considerable ex-
citement and the interposition of en-
voys Of several nations, the Americans
are out Of Jail, the writer Is In seclu-
sion, and Majorca may resume its status
as . quiet and peaceful place designed
for contemplation and artistic express
sion"
1T looks" according to the Chicago
Daily News, "as though the five Amer
leans had been victims Of Majorcan
prejudice against the bumptious foreign
invasion Of their island Of paradise and
Of q militaristic code unworthy Of the
young Spanish republic and its idealistic
constitution. Many of the men now
governing Spain have experienced the
horros Of Spanish jails and have
championed justice for all. Their efforts
to make over Spain along liberal lines
have won American sympathy, which
they ran the risk of alternating by pro-
longed imprisonment Of the i've young
American offenders. The punishment
administered was cruel and unreason-
able, and should have ended long before
1t did"
at is . trivial incident" thinks the
Newark Evening News, concluding that
'the five Americans appear to have been
0uardia Civil holds ITSELF" with the
result that ''the United States is en-
broiled In unpleAsantness" Pointing out
that great oaks from little acorns
grow" the Evening News concludes:
"John Bassett Moore has reminded us
recently that the Hundred Years War
originated In q fist fight between Nors
man and an English sailor some 40
years before the school books say the
war began. The latest incident should
be Eoned out. Is 1t doubtless will be.
before It becomes . serious irritation"
'The Majorcans take great pride In
being themselves" explains the Biz
mingham Ase-Herald, land they have
threatened to declare their independ-
ence. Apparently they are being ten
derly handled by the Spanish authori-
ties, not 30 happily placed these days
for number Of reasons. But their in
security has nothing to do with the
plain Justice Of the affair. Washington
should demapd the promptest possible
adjustment OF the matter"
The Jersey City journal feels that
the incident "has not added to the lure
Of the island paradise in the Aediter-
ranean." The Baltimore Sun comments:
Although It Is doubtful whether there
Is any widespread public sentiment in
favor Of declaring war against Maiorca
on account Of the Incarceration Of five
American cftiSens after an alteration
with . member Of the 0uartia Civil.
there Will be q substantial agreement
that forty days q long time to re-