At 6.45 on Tuesday evening Captain General Aznar announced that
martial law would be declared and that on Wednesday morning a decision would be taken as to the future. Nevertheless only an hour or two later Senor Zamora, by this time well in the saddle, announced by wireless that a Provisional Republican Government, was already taking over the responsibilities of State. Senor Zamora is Prime Minister. At the same time it became known that the King was leaving Madrid at once by motor-car to join a ship-of-war at Cartagena for an unknown destination. The Royal Family had apparently made no preparations for a journey which, after all, began with the suddenness of flight. After luncheon at the Palace the Queen was quietly seeing several friends who brought her flowers, yet the next afternoon she was in a train on her way to the French frontier. Both the King and Queen departed with dignity and honour—so far as the official plan could control events. In spite of the strong natural sympathy which all British people feel with them, there is, of course, no tendency here to judge the decisions of the Spanish people. There is nothing but a sincere hope that the Spanish Republic will build up prosperity for itself and contribute to the stability of the new Europe which is in the making.
