Madrid, July 20.
The. immediate expropriation of all estates in the provinces of An-@alusia and Estremadura—exceed-
500 acres to be divided among the jobless formworkers who fare reported to number over 100,- 600 in these provinces alone, being proposed by the commission for agrarian reforms—instituted some time ago by the provisional government.
'The commission further suggests that a Dill to that effect be at once submitted to' the Constituent. Cortez and that, should Parliament fail sanction the measure "befor! August 1, the government should, fon account of the urgency of the matter, promulgate a decree ordering the immediate enforcement the: commission's proposal.
However, it is doubted whether the Cabinet will take such a radical step which, the opposition. claims, would form a dangerous precedent and would, moreover, greatly strengthen the position of the Communists who. would certainly fol-Jow up this measure with similar demands in respect to other private points raised, se Seville from the general strike which Was proclaimed there last week. The evolutionary labour organization "Sindico Un frantic efforts to tur the strike into Revolutionary movement and is Uising leaflets calling upon the to organize Soviets on the niodel, The. government ued a proclamation expressing determination to maintain order neville at all cost... The Seville garrison, it is announced is kept in 4 state of alarm while the streets are patrolled by armoured ears. addition, troops from the neighbour: ing garrisons have been ordered to entrain for. Se to encamp close tothe suburbs, 'Teans-Ocean Kuo Min, Suly 22, 'The Government are determined fante and for all to crush syndicalist disturbances, which have. been growing worse every "day and threatening the stability' of the ite "principal ringleaders Madrid and Seville have been arrested and their headquarters closed down and a decree now being issued lays down sever penalties for trikes, unless ten days' notice is given, Meanwhile serious armed clashes: with ensualtios occurred to-day in Seville and strikers in Barcelona created an earthquake effect in the centre of the town by dropping high explosive shell down a manhole, "The explosion severed 1,500 telephone lines—Reuter, 'A state of siege has been declared throughout the province of Andalusia, including its capital, Sevila,' where the strike-movement has now definitely become an arnied political rebellion under the lead. ership. of prominent anarchists and. Syndicalists, 3
In consequence of the strict censorship the situation remains ob-Seure, the newspapers publishing only the official reports of numerous outrages.
According to these sources the telephone exchange at Dos Herm: nas was set on fire by the rotor: trapping a number of girl opera. tors who were rescued only at the Fast minute by a strong detachment of Guardia Civil from Sevilla who Grove the rioters away by machine gun fire which killed several and wounded scores.
At Utera the authorities arrest-a Russian Communist who attempted to persuade the workers 4o occupy the factories by arnied force and to storm the barracks of the local garrison.
In Corio, del Rio the rebels also set fire tothe telephone exchange. Republican guards stationed in the building opened fire immediately and there ensued a pitched street battle with heavy casualties on the side of the" tioters—Trans-Ocean Kuo Min, Tuly 23.
Grave alarm has been evoked among Roman Catholics by details, Which are published to-day, of Dubliean Spain's future relations swith the Roman Catholic Church.
Vacant posts among. the clergy aye to remain unfilled og a measure of national economy, It is calculated that £500,000 will thus be saved to the budget in first year, and in ten pee. cent years the saving is calelated at 80 Religious Orders which persist in refusing to declare the value of their propery are threatened with ex-and confiscation.
The stoppage of the State's annual gift of £200,000 to the Church is recommended, and apparently the State intends in future to pay only the priests in small communities and to suppress the salaries of bishops and other members of the higher clergy—Through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.