¡Arriba España!
by Natacha Rambova de Urzaiz
To quote Mr. Winston Churchill:
"It is without doubt that the enormous influence exercised in Spain towards a state or revolution had Russia for origin ... Without the communist intrigue carried on in Spain for six months prior to the movement, we would never have had to witness the present horrors." - A country so naturally rich, in such a state of decay, was bound to attract alien acquisitiveness.
Wealth centered in the hands of indolence and indifference does not tend towards national strength or progress. That has been the tragedy of Spain. With wealth goes responsibility; those who have refused to take their responsibilities have had to pay bitterly for their short-sighted idleness. As always, the exceptions have had to suffer for the generalities. In the last five years that Spain has been my home I have watched with growing apprehension the gathering clouds of this storm."
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Yet those who should have been the most interested were content to rest placidly voicing their favorite expression, "Everything will take care of itself, nothing ever happens in Spain It is, unfortunately, a characteristic of the Spanish people that they utterly refuse to look ahead; preparation bores them. They have a genius for emergencies. Although there is no one who so loves his peace, yet there is no braver, fiercer fighter once aroused.
In the hands of General Franco, who is a disciplinarian with energetic modern ideas, Spain may have a great future; she may rise again to reclaim her position of past grandeur. These hopes of the future are voiced in his words, "All citizens of the new Spain must work, there will be no place for the idle or for those who have lost their pride of race in the pursuits of foreign amusements. Let us hope the slaughtered, tortured thousands will not have met martyrdom in vain. There is no country with greater latent possibilities; my one wish is that she may realize them.
¡Arriba España, A Vencer!
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When we had been in Madrid the year before, things had been different. The Rights were then in power. Hopes were focused on Gil-Robles. All would now be well.
José María Gil-Robles y Quiñones de León ( November 27, 1898 - September 13, 1980)
The streets were filled with bright, expensive cars; I had never seen so many stream-lined Chryslers and LaSalles. The side-walks were crowded with women smart in Paris clothes. Confidence was being restored. Wealth was cautiously emerging from its seclusion - not yet entirely convinced of the safety of conspicuous daylight. Sallying forth gradually with more boldness, it kept one eye ever on its refuge; for a hasty retreat at any loud rumbles of the Lefts.
The cinemas and bars, the two principle places of amusement of the elite were crowded. 'The Bengal Lancers' had been playing to weeks of enthusiastic acclaim. At all smart hours it was impossible to be served at the Bakanik or Chicote's. Even the large and more democratic Aquarium was packed. One lunched or dined at the Bar Club; frightfully expensive, but excellent food!
We had come to Madrid to attend a wedding of a close member of my husband's family. In consequence, we viewed wedding presents and trousseau, attended formal family luncheons or less formal cocktail parties. Life, like a barely moving, sluggish stream, flowed slowly through extraordinary hours and rutty routines.
We rose about noon, dressed leisurely and sauntered to some bar, sooner or later to be joined by the same friends of the day before. Madrid, I discovered, was in reality but a very small Main Street. Everyone knew everyone else, knew what everyone else was doing This later required little ingenuity as no one did anything that was not done by everyone else. No one dared brave ridicule or criticism by an original thought or action. One lunched about two-thirty. After lunch one siesta-ed until six; the hour when the first move cinema-ward was made. A few of the very energetic played golf. Some of the older generation went for a drive through the Pardo before tea.
Still belonging to the younger generation, we went to the ciné. Afterward the men went off together to Chicote's. We, the women, went home to our own apartments. The next hour and a half was again spent in our dressing rooms; although, since the Republic, no one dressed for dinner unless for a very special occasion. At ten, we gathered in the salon to gossip lazily until the arrival of male friends and members of the family. Dinner was scheduled for ten; we rarely sat down until eleven.
Dinner was usually a tedious affair ending about one in the morning. Some of the men had been to the Country Club and discussed club gossip. At times, politics entered the conversation. This latter topic rarely reached any pitch of heated arguments. The Rights, gracias a Dios, were again in power. They would now undoubtedly be indemnified for their confiscated fincas, or the fincas might event be returned. They could safely leave matters in the hands of Gil-Robles. Why discuss or worry!
Some blamed these annoying times on other nobles who had not been loyal. If they had all stuck by El Rey, things would not have come to such a pass! Others disagreed and said in reality it was all the King's fault; he had been too democratic. How could he expect to keep his position if he drove himself around in a Ford and sat amongst the audience at the cinema. He was altogether too intelligent, too broadminded for a King. Today, the English royal family were the only ones who understood and held their position. They knew the value of tradition; were never seen except surrounded by fitting ceremony.
Look at University City. That again was the King's idea; It had been in fact, his hobby. He wished education for his people. A great mistake! If everyone became educated who wa going to do the manual labor; impossible in Spain for Spain was an agricultural country. They had all agreed on this so many times it had become boring. The conversation returned to more amusing subjects. They debated the merit of Greta Garbo in 'Queen Christina." Some found it too theatrical.
At tea, I listened to the older generation. Over their tea cups, in high-ceilinged rooms hung with family Goyas, Sneyders and Velasquez, They discussed the goings and coming of their respective families. They shook their head over the strangeness of the times, over the wild life of the younger generation. In their day there had been no bars! They would sigh and allow their minds to wander along more pleasant channels. They remembered their duties at Court, the Court functions and balls; they recalled anecdotes. They laughed and whispered about that time when the Duchess of So-and-So had so well put the pushing Countess of So-and-So in her place. Dear Sophia was really a character as she never lacked the exact word at the right moment! They mused and laughed, contented and happy in the memoires of the past. The Past, in which they continued their lies in the dignity of tranquil comfort. Yes, the older generation still remain contented in the past, the younger generation blindly and indolently in the present. It seemed it was left to the people to live in the future.
END OF PART 1
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Before I close this and future blog posts having to do with Natacha's essay, 'Up Spain!' it occurs to me that for our readers who are not familiar with some of the terminology used in these entries, and even some of the individuals referred to, it might help if I explained a few things. So, I'm going to do that. I'll keep the explanations brief, just enough so we can all keep up. If these explanations are redundant, please forgive me. Some people take to political and sardonic references easily and with great understanding; others do not. Natacha was good for both, a trait that she likely inherited from our common ancestor.
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Winston Churchill's statement: Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill,(November 30, 1874 - January 24, 1965) was a wise man. He was not a perfect man, but he was wise. Like so many prominent figures during the 1930's, Winston Churchill was at first inclined to be sympathetic to the fascist dictators of Europe because he saw in their initial strength a needed fortification against the spread of what he then regarded as an even greater threat to Europe and the world ... international communism.
In the early stages of the Spanish Civil War, Churchill's conclusions seemed to be validated. In Spain, fascism was, indeed, clearly on the offensive against the "Red Menace." He, therefore, felt that Britain could, at least for a time, profitably choose to remain uncommitted. When, however, the European balance shifted in favor of the fascists, Churchill could just as decisively alter his public, as well as his private, thinking on the extent and intent of the communist threat and "for the duration" join with the Reds against the fascists. World War II did, indeed, make allies of enemies and the ideas of great men were seemingly ever-changing. Our political climate of today is further proof of Churchill's warnings.
Think about it as it applies not only to parts of Europe, but to America ... indeed, what happens in the next few years could affect our world forever.
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Gil-Robles: This Spanish politician was the leader of the CEDA (Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas - Spanish Confederation of Right Groups) and a prominent figure in the period leading up to the Spanish Civil War. He served as Minister of War from May to December 1935. In the 1936 elections the CEDA was defeated, and support for Gil-Robles and his party evaporated.
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Rights: (sometimes referred to as 'reds') - Republican Party. The rich and elite who consider themselves above all others in the sense that they have more assets than others might, fluid cash, land, or on paper.
Lefts: (sometimes referred to as PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrera Española - Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) and Republican Left Party ... took over after CEDA was defeated.
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fincas: The Spanish word for 'farms.' In an attempt to 'even things up,' so to speak, among the classes in Spain, land was being taken from the rich landowners and given to the workers (who had nothing but time to work) and they were expected to make the land work for them. It was the hope of the rich landowners, which included Alvaro's family, that their leader, Gil-Robles, would be able to re-acquire these fincas for them. In other words, they left it all in someone else's hands so they could still live their lavish lifestyle and have no worries. Out of sight, out of mind ... except the occasional mention at afternoon tea.
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Natacha likely had some interesting input she could have provided on Greta Garbo & John Gilbert's movie, 'Queen Christina.' It was a beautiful costume film, and right in with Natacha's interest sphere, but if she said anything, she did not relate this. Most likely, she was busily trying to fit in with the Spanish ladies and being a Hollywood personality was the last thing she wanted to be known for ...
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Natacha had visited Madrid not only before with Alvaro, but she had visited the city with Rudy and her mother. In her memoir, where she shares space with her mother for remembrances, Muzzie relates how Rudy was gone most of the time they spent in Madrid in search of some armor he had read about. Again, I rather doubt that Natacha mentioned this to anyone. n fact, I doubt if she mentioned that she had been married to Rudolph Valentino to anyone except Alvaro, at all. Certainly Alvaro's family was not the least bit impressed by Natacha's Hollywood past.
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It was strongly believed by the Republicans that the Socialist uprising had been carefully prepared under supervision and guidance from Moscow. The right-wing press came up with the notion that the uprising had been the product of a foreign Jewish-Bolshevik conspiracy. Here lie the origins of much of Natacha's rhetoric in 'Up Spain! that the actions of the Right which followed were a move to save Spain from a puppet state with Russia pulling the strings.
Sound familiar? It should. I am getting the feeling I should be hiding under my desk, again. Just to refresh our memory ... the original 'Duck & Cover' film from the 1950s &1960s that played on t.v. in case the Soviets sent the nuclear bomb our way. I have a feeling it would be a bit more dramatic if it happened in this day and age. Today the kids in school have 'active shooter simulation drills.' Lovely.
Darkmum
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