SPAIN: The President: I Resign!

In the midst of a session last week of Spain's National Assembly, the honor of Provisional President Niceto Alcala Zamora went off halfcocked, left Spain for one hour with no Chief Executive.

President Alcala Zamora had been arguing from the Government Bench for modification of a bill to expropriate the estates of Spanish grandees and landed gentry. He urged the committee drafting the bill to "move not too fast," hinted that their direction was already too radical. Suddenly Senor Jiminez Asua, Socialist Committee Chairman, blazed:

"The President is nullifying this committee's work by attacking its resolutions from the government bench!"

President Alcala Zamora bounced from his bench, shirt cuffs waving, sparse hair flying.

"This is the end!" he cried, "Not only are the Socialists opposed to my Government, but my personal honor has been assailed. I resign!"

Pandemonium. Amid cheers and jeers members of the Cabinet clustered round resigned President Alcala Zamora, arguing, pleading, coaxing him to reconsider. Alcala Zamora refused to budge so long as the insult to his honor stood. For 63 minutes Spain was without a President. Finally Insultor Jiminez was persuaded to resign his committee chairmanship. Mollified, Senor Alcala Zamora withdrew his Presidential resignation, gingerly sat down on the Government bench again.

"I wish to resign," said he, "but the difficulty of forming a new Government makes it imperative for me to continue indefinitely. However, the hour has arrived when you gentlemen must begin to consider my successor."

Honor satisfied and the Government preserved, the National Assembly succeeded in drafting the expropriation bill the next day. Moderate President Alcala Zamora had his way. Grandees were cheered to discover that, as drafted last week, the expropriation law does not provide for confiscation of estates, provides that payment must be made for estates expropriated.