There is another Ministerial crisis in Spain, owing this time
to a.. scandal. The Radicals affirm, apparently with some evidence, that S. Sagasta, not content with employing the secret-service money in seating candidates, transferred large sums from other departments to that fund, and spent them too, in particular a sum, of £20,000 from the Colonial Budget. S. Sagasta, for his part, affirms that the expenditure of secret-service money is one which must be left to Ministerial discretion, refuses all explanation, and finally retires. The King sent for General Zabala, who declined the task of forming a Cabinet, and finally summoned Marshal Serrano, who will probably comply. The Cabinet will, of course, be selected from the majority, and it is believed in Madrid that the Radicals will take the earliest opportunity of retiring from the Cartes en masse, thus leaving the dominant party absolute. They will not, however, join the Republicans, or take part in any agitation for the expulsion of the King.
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