... the Republic, since the reliability of the constitutional forces could not be guaranteed, was a wholesale arming of the trade unions and the left-wing parties. Prime Minister Casares Quiroga prevaricated, confident proclamations issued forth as important time slipped by, but no arms were issued.2 Quiroga undoubtedly overwhelmed resigned on the 19th of July and was quickly followed twelve hours later by his replacement Martinez Barrio. It was the next new Prime Minister Jose? Giral that issued a decree dissolving the army and ordering that arms be distributed.3 As arms had to be issued anyway the delay proved a costly mistake for two reasons. Firstly it could be argued that in areas where the military hesitated and the workers were prepared the uprising generally failed, were as conversely when the military acted quickly and the workers remained inactive the rising was a success4. Secondly was the effect on the attitude ...

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