The new Spanish Cortes, which will be Conservative, will meet
in June, and it is understood that Senor Silvela will lay before them a complete plan of reforms in all branches of the administration. The most urgent of these is a reform in the finance intended to relieve Spain of part of her crushing Debt. It is rumoured that the plan adopted will be a payment of 2 per cent, upon the internal bonds, and of a higher rate upon the external Debt, the raising of a consider- able loan, and the payment, in part at least, of the great sum owing to the Bank of Spain. The financial measures will be the first discussed, and it is possible that the remainder will be allowed to drag, but we are told that Serior Silvela person- ally is sincerely anxious to carry out a thorough administra- tive reform. In that case he should ask for power to carry out his measures by decree. He will never get a thorough reform out of a nominee Parliament, whose Members will be thinking first of themselves, and secondly of "influential constituents." Spain needs a temporary dictator in the guise of a Premier.
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