Citizen Bourbon

Former King Alfonso XIII of Spain last week had the curious but pleasant sensation of becoming a citizen of his native country. He was made so by a decree of Generalissimo Francisco Franco himself. To the 52-year-old Alfonso, now living in Italy, were restored (so far as Insurgent Spain could do so) the rights he lost after he fled the country in 1931 and was "tried" in absentia before the Republic's Parliament. The Republic found him guilty of high treason, confiscated his properties, ordered his immediate arrest should he ever be caught in Spain again.

Meanwhile Don Alfonso, last of Spain's Bourbon monarchs, having prudently invested tens of millions of pesetas in foreign bonds and stocks while he sat upon Spain's throne, did not go hungry in exile. Citizen Bourbon will regain little now save two homes, one on the fashionable beach at San Sebastian, another at Santander (both in Rightist Spain). Should the Rebels take Madrid he would again become the owner of seven partly damaged business buildings there, upping his total recovery of property to about $3,500,000. The crown properties (castles, palaces, etc.) are still considered State property by Rightists and Leftists alike. More important, however, an opening has been made, possibly for Alfonso's return to the throne in the event of a final Franco victory, more likely for a crown for the healthier of Alfonso's two living sons, 25-year-old Prince Juan.

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