Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/23

LEFT SPAIN France, and the throne being offered in 1870 to Amadeus, a son of Victor Eman- uel. Finding his task too difficult, he resigned in 1873. A republic was now formed, with Castelar as its leading spirit, but it was soon brought to an end, and the throne was offered in 1874 to Alfonso, the young son of the exiled Queen Isabella. Alfonso XII. died in 1885; and on the birth of a posthumous son. May 17, 1886, the regency was intrusted to his widow, Christina. In 1902 this son came to the throne under the title of Alfonso XIII. Long disturbed conditions in Cuba re- sulted, in 1898, in war with the United States. See SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. CUBA. Alfonso became of age in 1902 and the regency was termi- nated. During the years following, changes in the cabinet occurred with great frequency. In 1904 closer rela- tions were established with France, in regard to the common policy in Morocco. On May 31, 1906, King Alfonso married Princess Ena of Battenberg, a grand- daughter of Queen Victoria of England. During 1908-09 there was an outbreak of anarchistic activities and an attempt- ed revolution occurred at Barcelona. This led to the trial and execution of the Anarchist Ferrer. Several reforms in the religious system were undertaken and put into effect in 1910-11. At the outbreak of the World War, in 1914, Spain at once declared its neutrality and this was continued throughout the con- flict. There was strong pressure brought to bear at various times to in- duce the government to take side with either of the belligerents, and several changes in the cabinet were the result of these endeavors. When the war broke out a Conservative cabinet was in power. This was forced to resign in June, 1915, and was succeeded by a Liberal cabinet led by Count Romanones. The Liberals and their supporters de- manded improvement in the economic conditions of the country, which resulted in 1915-16 in industrial disturbances throughout the country. There were strikes in Madrid, Valencia, and other industrial circles. These reached a crisis in 1916 when a general strike was declared. This was met promptly by the government with the declaration of martial law throughout the country. This resulted at once in an agreement on the part of the strikers to arbitrate their demands. In the beginning of 1917 a determined effort was made to bring Spain openly to the support of the Allies. This resulted in greatly in- creased activity on the part of the pro- German elements. The renewal of sub- marine warfare and the entrance of the 5 SPALATO, or SPALATRO United States on the side of the Allies greatly complicated the political situa- tion in Spain, and the entire cabinet re- sigTied on April 19, 1917. Garcia Prioto was appointed prime minister. The new cabinet at once declared the continuance of neutrality. As the Ger- man submarine warfare increased it be- came ever more difficult for Spain to maintain friendly relations with all the belligerents. The Allies complained against the sinking of their passenger vessels in Spanish waters in increased numbers, and as an added complication many Spanish vessels were sunk by Ger- man submarines. The army demanded radical reforms in its organization and administration, and finally put these de- mands in the form of an ultimatum. As a result of these difficulties the minister resigned on June 9, 1917, and Sefior Dato became again prime minister. He at once undertook to grant the reforms asked by the army. Dissatisfaction among the working people led to strikes in many parts of the country in 1917, and on August 13 of that year martial law was declared. A revolution was threatened in Catalonia. In the face of all these problems the cabinet resigned at the end of October. A coalition min- istry was formed which undertook to compromise on the disputed questions. Several ministries now fell and rose in succession. Throughout 1918 difficulties with Germany continued in regard to submarine warfare as the result of re- peated sinking of Spanish ships. The demand for constitutional and economic reforms continued to harass the govern- ment, but there were no open outbreaks. On the assembling of the Peace Con- ference at Paris, Count Romanones con- ferred with the Allied statesmen. Cata- lonia was promised a separate govern- ment in 1919, and was granted a Parlia- ment of two chambers. In April of that year, however, serious disorders again broke out and Barcelona and the Cata- lonian districts were given a place under martial law. Following the war econ- omic conditions in Spain were serious, although it fared better than the coun- tries actually engaged in war. There was a shortage of wheat in 1920 which resulted in bread riots in various parts of the country. There was an outbreak in Morocco in July, 1920, and Spanish troops undertook to put it down. Operations continued slowly for the re- mainder of the year and finally resulted in the suppression of the outbreak. SPALATO, or SPALATRO, a town of Dalmatia, Jugoslavia; on a promontory on the E. side of the Adriatic; 160 miles S. E. of Fiume. Here in a most beauti-