14 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 2

Spain King Alfonso seems to have burnt his boats. Last

Sunday he signed the decree authorizing elections for March 1st and 15th, according to plan, and convoking a Cortes for March 25th. He disregarded the refusal of the majority of the political groups to take part in these elections. The Berenguer Government has made concessions in all directions, reviving freedom of the Press and of association, and so forth, but its action fails to meet the fundamental national grievance. The 1876 Constitution and the pseudo-Parliamentary regime are apparently as unpopular as the dictatorship itself.