Toward Normalcy?

Some 27 months ago (TIME, Sept. 29, 1923) General Primo de Rivera, robust determined, overthrew the allegedly corrupt Government of Premier Alhucemas by "a bloodless Fascist revolution," and became de facto "The Mussolini of Spain" and de jure President of "The National Directorate,"* an office which King Alfonso hastily created for him.

At the time it was announced that the new Directorate intended to remain in power only long enough to purge Spain of her corrupt internal administration and to restore the prestige of her armies in Morocco. Last week it began to look as if this promise were being kept rather well by Dictator de Rivera. He announced that he bas built up a political party, the Patriotic Union, and declared that he will function henceforth as Premier of the following half-civil, half-military Cabinet:

General Primo de Rivera Premier

General Martinez Anido Vice Premier

and Minister of the Interior

Dr. Jose Yanguas Foreign Minister

(Professor of International Law at the University of Madrid; Spanish representative on the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague)

Senor Calvo Sotelo Finance

Senor Galoponte Justice

The Duke of Tetuan War

Admiral Cornejo Marine

Senor Eduardo Callejo Education

The Count of Guadal-Horce Public Works

Don Eduardo Aunos Labor

The Marquis of Guadalerzas Agriculture

King Alfonso, dapper and blandly smiling, welcomed the new Cabinet and proceeded to sign the parchments which gave it authority. He made valid a royal decree repealing that under which the Directorate has flourished; he gave legal status to the acts of the new Cabinet.

The Significance. Observers noted that the new Government has announced its intention of retaining the present censorship of the Spanish press, and opined that it will keep an all but dictatorial checkrein upon national activities. None the less Premier Primo de Rivera made statements which were interpreted as foreshadowing the resuscitation, "by early June," of the suspended Constitution and Cortes (Parliament). He remarked: "All will be made known as the times become opportune."

El Liberal (Madrid) commented: "While the new Government is a change from the old in name only, we hope that constitutional parliamentary government will soon return to Spain." El Sol, less sanguine characterized the new regime as "civil-military and transitory." The official communiques declared: "The public received the news of the political change with approbation."

*A military junta made up of officers of de Rivera's victorious faction.