Inflexible Dictator

The Cortes (Parliament) has not sat since 1923 because Dictator-Premier Primo de Rivera has prevented King Alfonso XIII from performing his Constitutional duty to convene the Cortes.

When is another Cortes to assemble? Dictator Primo de Rivera virtually declared "Never!" in answer to this question last week, by announcing that next September there will be convened a new National Assmebly (not the Cortes) for the purpose of drafting and proclaiming a new Spanish Constitution.

This announcement caused many Spanish news organs to express last week the very latest indignation.

Primo de Rivera, bullnecked, florid, paunchy, inflexible, replied by sending a circular note of reprimand to Opposition news paper editors: "The Government shall defend its firm and irrevocable resolve, already taken, and it shall not permit any opposition designed to distract, alienate or misinform public opinion, which in the majority has accepted this solution as the best offered in the exercise of the dictatorship under the Government's exclusive responsibility to country and King."