Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/339

 1899.] Spain. — Ministerial Crisis. [331

Lachenal of Geneva, and head of the Home Department, resigned his office, which was assumed by M. Comtesse of Neuch&tel.

Whilst willing to play the remunerative and honourable rdle of general arbitrator, Switzerland was by no means desirous of seeing herself invaded by a cosmopolitan crowd, and the question of how to deal with foreigners was keenly discussed in every canton. It was estimated that there were not less than 250,000 foreigners residing in the frontier towns and villages, and that the best way of dealing with them was either to facilitate or, if necessary, to insist upon their naturalisation. The Federal Council remitted the matter to the various cantonal Govern- ments for their opinions, but the general tenor of the replies showed that there was no wish to see any modification of the existing law.

IV. SPAIN.

The year opened with an act of grace in the shape of a royal decree according free pardon to all persons convicted of press offences. This effort at peacemaking was received by the extremists as insufficient, and by the moderates as evidence of weakness. Sefior Silvela was all the more encouraged in his task of reorganising the Conservative party by the fact that General Weyler's attitude was daily becoming more suspicious in the eyes of parliamentarians, for the general no longer con- cealed his pretension of establishing a military government. Taking the occasion of the Twelfth Night Festival, he gave a grand banquet at which fourteen generals appeared as his guests, and after dinner, accompanied by at least a thousand officers, they attended the Minister's reception. This demonstra- tion was sufficient to alarm General Polavieja, who, feeling his monopoly at stake, at once made overtures of reconciliation to Sefior Silvela. The latter found the moment propitious for a definite announcement of his principles, and at the Conservative Club found the means of speaking to the nation at large. The Liberal party, he declared, was at its last gasp, and it was the duty of the Conservatives to take up the burden of Govern- ment and to bring about those reforms which were absolutely essential to the country — such as obligatory military service, a reduction of the pension list, increase of the national defences, especially on the coasts. To meet the necessary expendi- ture he was prepared to tax still more heavily all personal property, including the public funds.

The Ministerial crisis, however, was not to be hastened by such threats. Senor Sagasta was still strong enough to take the important step of suppressing the Ministry of the Colonies, as no longer justifiable, and his audience of the Queen-Begent, to whom he submitted the decree, showed that his credit at court had not been exhausted.

A few days later a Cabinet Council was held (Jan. 17) at