They ordered the punishment of the teaching staff who taught the subject of Religion in languages other than Spanish. This Royal Decree of Spain originated in a circular issued in 1901 by the Civil Governor of Navarra, Benito France, which states that in the mountainous area of Navarra teachers spoke in Basque, forcing them to teach their subjects in Spanish.

In the Navarre of the time, the favorable attitude to the Basque was widespread. There were debates in the press at the time for the decision.