Fighting Premier Negrin

Title

Language

English

Source

Panorama

Year

1939

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

1f A picture of the last Spanish loyalist premierFIGHTING PREMIER NEGRIN IT was rather a surprise to everyone when Juan Negrin was elected to the post of Prime Minister of Loyalist Spain. Heretofore he had been considered more of a mediator than a leader-particularly a leader of such a country, at such a time! Yet now he is commonly acknowledged as the leading spirit of Republican Spain. His election to the important post he now holds is a good thing in many respects. In the first place, he is one of those Spaniards whose patriotism is not marred by over-excessive. foaming-at-the-mouth nationalism and to whom Europe is a reality. By education and by conviction, he is primarily a European. Unlike so many other Spanish politicians, who acquired their education in Jesuit schools, Negrin studied in Germ.any and Italy, before becoming one of the youngest professors in Spain. He speaks fluent English. French and German, and understands Russian. He has travelled extensively. His versatility is exceptional. Besides being a professor in physiology, he is also considered an expert on financial and economic questions. His many tal8 ents include a definite capacity for organization, which he has utilized in many fields: he organized that great nursery of Spanish contemporary thought, the Editorial Espana, and was one of the first founders of the University City of Madrid. Altogether he is that strange phenomenon, an active scholar. a curious mixture of scientist and business man, an intellectual and an organizer. He does not, however write much-nor does he speak well. Negrin's presence at the helm indicates that the period of fanaticism and partisanship is over and moderation prevails. From the very beginning he carried on a fight against the excesses of fanatical crowds. The brand of politics he practises is in keeping with his temperament. His attitude to the regime that elected him has not a trace of subservience, but rather courageous acceptance. For him revolution means a biological and economic transformation of society. but he has too clear an understanding and veneration for law and authority to permit disorder. Although not a fanatic, Negrin is a fighter. From the bePANORAMA ginning he fought passionately and efficiently on many fronts, with only one idea in his mind: to win the war. He fought in Sierra, where he reorganized the militia. , As a Minister of Finances, he fought bitterly to relieve the financial situation. As the President of the Council. he carried the war from the Brunete front to Geneva, where he pleaded the Loyalist cause before the League of Nations. He is everywhere, darting from place to place in his aeroplane until even his own associates cannot tell where he is, often believing him to be in Valencia, when he is already in Barcelona. -Europe Nouvelle, Paris. §!,int of CUew THE STORY is brought back by a traveler returning from the Far East, of an Englishman and an American who were introduced to a local Raja. Addressing the Englishman, the potentate smiled and said: "I note that you are a British subject." The Englishman proudly admittedly as much, whereupon the ruler turned to the American and remarked. "And you sir, are a subject of the United States?" "Subject nothing," bellowed the Yankee, "I'm one of the owners."-Don Short in N. Y. Journal-American. !J/.oposaf JACK was very much in love. He wanted to marry Barbara, but could not for the life of him ask her outright to marry him. After taking much shrewcl thought, he finally asked, "How would you like to be buried with my people?" -Progr68aive Farmer. MARCH, 1939 9

pages

8-9

Media