“ By the royal ratification the Prime Minister finds himself not only the confirmed master of all his collaborators, however ambitious and impatient, but also the mouthpiece of the nation in international matters, with all the moral authority of the King’s choice and the unanimous advice of the “Elder Statesmen.” ”

“ Meanwhile, the frankly pro-Ally attitude, which Count Romanones’ Cabinet had adopted towards the submarine question, and especially in regard to the Peace Notes, produced a violent outburst in the pro-German press. An insidious campaign was immediately launched against the Prime Minister, who was accused of favouring the Allies with an eye on his profits as a lead and coal owner, and the signal for this campaign was given by no less a person than “a high diplomatist connected with the Central Empires” (probably Prince Ratibor, the German Ambassador himself) in an interview to La Nacion. ”

“ There is no doubt that the Cabinet so reinforced will take a strong stand against the German submarine campaign, and as for peace. Spain will avoid all interference until she is certain of the willingness of both sides to discuss it. ”