Pinching King

Long-jawed Alfonso XIII, as the Duke of Toledo, was in London last week to the slight embarrassment of the Labor Government. As in Paris, crowds cheered his every appearance.

Officially Alfonso and his faithful confidant the Duke of Miranda were in London to arrange for the entrance of Alfonso's third son, Prince Juan, in Britain's Annapolis: the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. Correspondents suspected that they were actually there to sound out British officialdom on the likelihood of the Spanish Royal family being able to settle there.

Britain has recognized the Portuguese Republic for years yet ex-King Manuel (who greeted Alfonso warmly in London last week) is a welcome resident. But Alfonso's case is different. Whether or not he is still King of Spain--as he claims --his wife is a member of the British Royal family and must be recognized as such. Also, Alfonso is a Field Marshal of the British Army (and an Admiral in the Swedish Navy), as such outranks Edward of Wales, a mere Colonel.

He went to Windsor last week to tea with George V and Queen Mary. The guard did not turn out, no Spanish royal standard flew from the castle flagstaff. That same afternoon the Republican tri-color--red, purple, yellow--floated for the first time over the Spanish embassy in London.

Knowing full well how damaging to Alfonso's popularity in Spain are the persistent stories of his great personal wealth, his prudent investments in Britain and the U. S., the Duke of Alba, Foreign Minister in the Berenguer Government, went to great lengths to deny these stories last week.

"It is a scandalous lie to say that the King has deposited millions of dollars abroad to protect himself. He has always invested the greatest portion of his wealth in Spanish interests for the sake of developing his own country. . . . It is more accurate to say that if His Majesty will not actually be pinched by monetary needs at any rate he will be nearer the pinching line than the luxury line and will have to watch his expenses closely."

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