Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/340

 332] FOEEIGN HISTOEY. [1899.

which Sagasta obtained from his colleagues the promise that they would present themselves to the Cortes which would assemble as soon as the treaty with the United States had received ratification. The programme for the session as fore- cast was a serious one, including as it did the consolidation of the floating debt, and the apportionment of the Cuban and Philippine debts. As might have been expected, the press ridiculed the proposals of a moribund Ministry ; but, in the interval of settling the financial settlement of Cuban and Philippine affairs, the Government endeavoured to obtain a decision upon certain judicial questions. Admiral Montojo was ordered to appear before a court martial composed of four admirals and nine generals, while at the same time General Tairdenez was placed under arrest. The situation was not a little complicated by the election of Admiral Cervera to the Senate, before the High Court had made an inquiry into his conduct at Santiago.

Whilst the official world was busying itself with a matter of little practical importance, the Chamber of Commerce of Seville had come to a decision which involved the most serious consequences. It resolved to form an association of the various Chambers of Commerce throughout the country, in order that their demands might be treated with greater consideration. Commerce was at last determined to assert its rights, and its representatives displayed great practical sense and also healthy activity. They decided upon first insisting on a reduction on traffic charges on goods, and next upon opening up friendly relations with all Hispano-American Chambers of Commerce with the intention of extending them later on to other countries throughout the world. This movement, inaugurated at Seville, was warmly supported in other parts of the peninsula, and not only became an important factor in the development of Spanish commerce, but was the most prominent political incident of the year.

Meanwhile the Liberal Ministry was preparing to take up its ground in anticipation of a parliamentary struggle for office. The summoning of the Cortes (Feb. 20) was also marked by the removal of the state of siege, during which all constitutional rights had been in abeyance. At the same time the Superior Council of War gave satisfaction to the military element by deciding that there was no ground for sending Admiral Cervera for trial in connection with his conduct at Santiago.

The Minister of the Colonies, Senor Eomero Giron, whose office had been abolished for obvious reasons, was retained in the Cabinet as Minister of Public Works, the portfolio of which had been provisionally held by the President of the Council, whose hands were fully occupied with negotiations with the leaders of the Carlist and Eepublican groups, and with the followers of Senor Eobledo, whom he endeavoured to bring back to resume the posts they had given up in the previous