Evening star., 1934-10-28

4C1OH SAbALCAAo, AAAASAA W OAA~A OAA PA@c~
and CONSERVATION. Had Batet de-
Tended Catalonia things again might
have turned out differently.
But in Spain it is always the un-
expected that happens, although the
natives insist that here nothing ever
happens" The general strike, called
when Gil Robles' clericals turned out
the Samper government (also unex-
pected), was to have been a nation
paralyzing demonstration" So far
as general strikes go. it was beauty.
For five days the business of the coun-
try was at an absolute standstill. The
best the biggest hotels in Madrid could
produce in the way Of breakfast was
a cup Of chocolate, served without
milk, bread or butter. Then the strik-
ers got out of control. The Commu-
nists and Anarchists, and some Of the
started street fighting.
Anti Catholics burned a few churches.
Andalusian and Catalonian peasants
lyuched a few landowners. One priest
was murdered and his body dragged
the streets of Navas. Ovieda
miners and workers in other parts OF
the Asturias seized the local govern
ments. The temperamental Catas
lonians, fearing the Conservative gov
eminent in Madrid would eventually
deprive them of hard-earned rights
(their fears appear to have been JUS
titled, as the Lerroux cabinet has
usurped taxation prerogatives. dis
solved the Catalan police and sup
pressed many Barcelona newspapers).
sought to establish free state. And
so on. In the confusion the Socialists
appealed for moderation. EX-Premier
Azana, the most important chief Of
the opposition. found himself pro-
claimed President of the Third Re-
public" against his will. This is mad
ness" he told the Barcelonians. Today
Azana is facing trial for traffic in
illegal arms" Two score OF Socialist
leaders-Prieto, Caballero, del Vayo,
Negrin, Marcelino, Domingo and others
likewise are under arrest, despite
their claim to parliamentary immu-
nifty, or In hiding. Several army officers
who identified themselves with the
opposition have been court-martialed,
but thus far no death sentences have
been carried out.
Shuns Ruthless Methods.
Despite the realization that 1t re-
quired the full strength of the army,
navy and air force to suppress the
disorder, the LerrouX government Ia
loath to use ruthless methods against
the opposition. All Spain remembers
that 1t was the summary execution Of
Capts. Galan and Hernandez, leaders
Of the ill-starred Jaca revolt, which
hastened the downfall of the mon
archy. Martyrs are dangerous, even
though they belong to a minority.
Consequently Lerroux can be ex-
pected to do exactly as the Socialists
did-suppress the outbreaks and then
sit back and wait for another to hap
pen rather than anticipate them and
remove the cause
What may be dangerous trend in
Spanish politics is the dissolution Of
many small groups. their members
going either to the right or to the left.
Undoubtedly the lines are tightening
to where it will be a finish fight be-
tween the reactionaries and the lib
erals. Legally the Conservatives have,
an out-and-out majority in the Cortes.
The Socialists lost more than half Of
their ITO Deputies in the last cleo
tionS. The ClericalS collected lis. and
the Radicals and those sympathetic
to Lerroux obtained 1l0 seats. The
Monarchists and Fascists combined
have almost as many seats as the So
cialistS. In the last session of Parlia-
ment, summoned by Premier Lerroux
after the Barcelona revolt had been
suppressed, nearly $50 Deputies alb
sented themselves.
The Socialist uprising-seconded by
the Conservative Republicans of Mig
uel Maura, the Left Republicans of
Azana. the Left Catalans, the Union
Republicans. the Communists, and
about one-third of Lerroux' small per-
sonal following which deserted along
with their leader, Martinez Barrio-is
actually q minority. Theoretically it
should permit the majority-the Cler-
icals, Agrarians. Fascists, Royalists
and Right Republicans-to rule. In
stead they have bolted the Cortes on
the belief the Clericals are plotting to
legally restore the Monarchy, or at
least destroy the constitution and es-
tablish dictatorship or Fascist
regime. They have real reason to fear
as events have shown since Lerroux
assumed office.
1t is possible, Of course, to have a
general election. The Clericals are in
favor OF such a move, as they believe
the church can outvote the trade
unions and the villages can snow
under the cities votes. Since he is
allowed to dissolve Parliament only
twice during his six-year term of Of
f1ce, President Alcala Zamora is
loath to exercise this prerogative for
the second time. Balloting at this
stage would bring serious disorders in
It's wake. There are more than 1,000,-
600 trade unionists, followers of Largo
Caballero, who openly advocate q
proletarian dictatorship. The Social
lists. under Manuel Azana's leadership,
prefer such set-up to government
OF reaction or Fascism, even though
the latter groups would swear al
legiance to the republic.
Socialists Heavily Armed.
1t is overoptimistic to assume that
the Conservatives have Spain in their
pockets-even though they have par.
liamentary majority and the latest up-
rising has been crushed. The Social.
lists are known to be heavily armed.
Before they called the general strike
they were known to have had l3S
machine guns among their war stores.
Not single one Of these was taken
into the streets" Only one was un-
earthed by the police in their raids
on Socialist and Labor headquarters.
although hundreds of small arms were
captured. The level-headed leaders
will use the machine guns only as a
last resort. And when mitrailleuses
begin to bark on the streets the police
and army will act differently than
they did before unorganized mobs.
Even the hot-headed Gil Robles hesi-
tates before pushing the opposition to
such an extreme, and his demand for
drastic sentences for the imprisoned
Socialists probably is made with his
fingers crossed.
The Clericals also wish to avoid
new OllthlIrsts of church BURNING ond