THE TROUBLE IN SPAIN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2585, 20 August 1909, Page 5

THE TROUBLE IN SPAIN.

AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK. STATE OF SIEGE IN CATALONIA ABOLISHED. United Press Association—Copyright. MADRID, August 18. The state of siege in Catalonia has been abolished, but the constitutional guarantees remain suspended throughout Spain.

REPRESSIVE LAWS.

UNPOPULARITY OF THE ARMY IN CATALONIA.

The unpopularity of the army in Catalonia has always been pronounced, and was increased by the Law of Jurisdictions passed in 1906. Last year tile deputies from Catalonia presented a demand for its repeal, and the Maura Government refused, which refusal led to tho Catalan deputies withdrawing from the Cortes. In the early part of 1908 tho prospects. of the Maura Ministry appeared to be very bright in face of the divided condition of tho dynastic Liberals and the Republicans who constituted the Opposition. But tho Terrorist Bill and the non-repeal of the Law of Jurisdictions, are held to have weakened the position of the Government considerably.

The Terrorist Bill was meant to strengthen the hands of the Government in dealing with crimes committed with explosives. One clause of the Bill enabled the Government to proclaim any district for as long as it should think fit by Ordor-in-Council, and to suspend tho ordinary process of the law. An agitation against this feature of the Bill at onco sprang up, in which Liberals and Republicans made common cause. Business in the Cortes was blocked, and demonstrations against tho Bill took place Ultimately the Bill was shelved by being referred to a Committee. Than the Catalans demanded the repeal of the Law of Jurisdictions passed in 1906 to prevent attacks on the army, and subjecting all such cases to trial by a military tribunal. The Premier declined,. and the Catalan deputies thereupon withdrew" from the Cortes. The Catalan Assembly passed a vote of confidence in their deputies, but decided that they should return to the Cortes to insist on the repeal of the Law of Jurisdictions and the satisfaction of Catalonia’s demand for autonomy.

Describing the circumstances in -which the Law of Jurisdictions was passed, a Madrid correspondent remarks:—“lt will always he doubtful whether a Catalan jury would take a severe view of invective dericted by a countryman against military officers, who for the most part are not Catalans. The army . . . in 1905 was very angry, and it could point to the Socialist and Anarchist outrages which had taken, and were taking, place in Barcelona. Public sympathy was largely with it. A Catalan Deputy had the temerity to declare in the Cortes that the officers at Barcelona had been guilty of riotous assembly and forcible entry in breaking into a newspaper office and assaulting the editor. ' He received fifty challenges next morning, and it is understood that he was compelled to apologise to tho King. The Liberal Ministry of the day was compelled to pass the Law of Jurisdictions, which subjected all persons guilty of insult to the army to trial by a military tribunal. r lTi© solution was satisfactory 'to the army officers. - - Spanish public men may , and do, declare that it is a calumny to speak of the law as ‘an imposition’ of the soldiers.”