Second Spanish Republic: Encyclopedia II - Second Spanish Republic - Conservative Government November 1933-February 1936

Second Spanish Republic - Conservative Government November 1933-February 1936

By 1933, great opposition, however, was developing among the extremists, the Anarcho-Syndicalists and the Conservatives. The former were dissatisfied with the "moderation" of the Socialists and consequently provoked strikes and made several determined efforts at revolution. Two such revolts occurred in 1933, the first in January and the second in December, both of which were suppressed by the government with great severity. Martial law was frequently declared and arbitrary arrests and the holding of persons without charge became common. In the summer of 1933 some nine thousand political prisoners were in jail.

The Conservatives resented the "radical" tendencies of the government. Further, the women of Spain, more attached to the Church than the men, disapproved the anti-clerical legislation, and, now that they enjoyed the right of suffrage, were a factor to be reckoned with. On June 2, a law was signed which completed the separation of Church and state, nationalized Church property, and eliminated clericals from all educational activities. In an encyclical dated June 3. Pope Pius XI protested against the anti-clerical legislation of the Spanish Republic and called upon the Spanish people to use "all legitimate means to nullify the hateful legislation."

After local elections showed support for the left was waning, President Zamora demanded the resignation of the government. The Cortes, which was under the control of the Socialists, was dissolved, and in the general elections of 19 November, 1933, the Conservatives triumphed. The rightist coalition was led by centrist radical Alejandro Lerroux but dependent on the parliamentary support of the CEDA, a party led by José María Gil Robles with support ranging from Christian Democrats to fascists. The program of the victorious Right called for revision of the Constitution, repeal of the agrarian reform, repeal of the anti-clerical legislation, and limitation of the power of labor.

Signs of the developing reaction under the Conservative government included: (1) a clerical pensions act; (2) amnesty to political offenders convicted before November 19, 1933; (3) weakening of educational measures harmful to the Church; (4) weakening of land reform; and (5) the dispatch of the Republic's first ambassador to the Vatican. The traditional Easter procession in Seville was revived after two years of suppression. Also, priests in clerical garb began to make their appearance on the streets.

These signs of reaction alarmed the Socialists and Communists. Claiming that the Cortes was undermining the Republic, they fomented more strikes and riots. To combat the widespread unrest and threats of insurrection, the government proclaimed "a state of alarm," a modified form of martial law. In the face of Socialist threats of revolution, Premier Lerroux announced that as long as the left wing threatened class war the extraordinary police measures would continue.

Disagreement over the Amnesty Bill, by which nearly 9,000 political prisoners were to be freed and lands to be restored to the nobles, caused the overthrow of the Lerroux cabinet on April 25. The new ministry under Ricardo Samper Ibanez, was selected entirely from the parties of the Right and Center.

Second Spanish Republic - Asturian Uprising

The entry of three CEDA ministers into the government on 1 October 1934 led to coups d'état by socialists and anarchists in Asturias and Catalonia on 6 October. That day President Companys proclaimed Catalonia a free and independent republic. In this he was supported by former Premier Azaña. Miners in Asturia revolted, occupying Oviedo, leading to the death of about 40 people. That city was later almost destroyed by bombardment. The attempt of rebels to seize the government offices in Madrid was defeated. The most severe fighting, though, occurred in Catalonia and Galicia. By the middle of October, however, the revolt had been completely suppressed by General Francisco Franco. This Uprising and its suppression divided the nation.

During the revolt 3,500 people were killed, 10,000 wounded, and $500,000,000 ($7,100,000,000 in 2005 dollars) worth of property was destroyed. The Socialist party was said to have been largely responsible for the revolt and was ordered dissolved. Consequently, there remained in the Cortes no Left representatives other than a few moderate Republicans. The revolt also resulted in a severe setback to Catalan and Basque home-rule aspirations. The Madrid government announced that the Catalan Statute would be subjected to thorough revision.

The Conservatives were in full control and there was danger of immoderate action in dealing with the revolutionists. However, the punishment meted out to participants in the uprising was moderate. President Zamora threatened to resign rather than sign death warrants and there were very few executions.

Spanish nationalists later pointed to the uprising as an indication that left-wing republicans only supported democracy when they won elections, thus justifying a similar approach from the right.

Second Spanish Republic - After the Uprising

In 1935, Alejandro Lerroux had to reform his cabinet many times due to disputes with his coalition's more-conservative partners. The first difficulties appeared on March 28 because of disapproval of Lerroux's conciliatory and moderate policy toward the "October rebels." A new cabinet was formed on April 3 with Catholic Action unrepresented. Then on May 6, the cabinet was reorganized with five posts given to Catholic Action. Gil Robles, the Catholic leader, was made Minister of War, his first cabinet post. The entry of Robles into the cabinet and his apparent willingness to support the Republic was a blow to the royalists who had given him their support. This break between Robles and the monarchists caused Count Romanones to organize the Liberal Monarchist Democratic party.

On September 20 Premier Lerroux and his coalition cabinet resigned after being in office since April 3. The issue was forced by the Agrarians because of a too conciliatory policy toward Catalonia. In the new ministry, headed by Joaquin Chapaprieta, Robles continued as Minister of War, and Lerroux became Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, Lerroux was soon forced to resign because of a bribery charge in the Straperlo scandal. This later undermined the confidence in centrist republican parties and led to more polarization. Although he was voted not guilty by the Cortes, his political prestige was seriously weakened.

The demand of Premier Chapaprieta that the Cortes approve his proposal to raise 200,000,000 pesetas by increasing taxes on the rich, caused the overthrow of his cabinet on December 10. The Catholic party, opposing new taxes, withdrew its support. Another stop-gap government, thoroughly unrepresentative of the Cortes, was formed by Manuel Portela Valladares.

In June, 1935, martial law was restored in Catalonia because of lawlessness and failure of the police to deal with the local situation. Civil law was not restored in Barcelona until October. This was followed by a state of siege which continued until the end of the year.

Zamoras successors were less forgiving of political dissidents. Thirty thousand political prisoners were held for trial in 1935 alone. Thousands had been kept in custody over a year pending trial. There were many notable cases. On June 5 the Tribunal of Constitutional Guarantees sentenced Luis Companys, former president of the Catalan Generalitat, and six of the former members of the Catalan Executive Council, to thirty years imprisonment each for complicity in the rebellion. Ex-Premier Manuel Azana, who was accused of gun-running in Asturias prior to the October rebellion, was acquitted, as was also Francisco Largo Caballero, Socialist leader and former Minister of Labor.

The Italo-Ethiopian conflict in 1935 placed Spain in an awkward position. Although Spain was a member of the League of Nations and had been faithful to its obligations in imposing League sanctions against Italy, the Catholics and Monarchists were traditionally friendly to Italy and wished to preserve a strict neutrality. In the mean time, trade relations with France and the United Kingdom soured as all three began imposing higher tariffs on each others' goods.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Conservative Government November 1933-February 1936", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki