§ 67. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Union Jack was specially hoisted over the building which houses the Chancery of the British Legation at Havana, Cuba, on 18th July, on the anniversary of the rebellion against the Spanish Republic; and whether he will look into this matter and state the steps he is taking against this flouting of His Majesty's Government's attitude to the Franco regime.
§ Mr. MayhewThe flag was flown in accordance with the local diplomatic custom, as on all other national days. This was an act of diplomatic convention, and has no political significance.
§ Mr. PiratinIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this was a particular occasion when the Spanish representative in Havana was celebrating the initiation of the rebellion by Franco and his colleagues in July, 1936, and is that the kind of event our Legation in Cuba should be celebrating?
§ Mr. MayhewThis is a trifling formality. If it had had any political consequences, we should certainly not have done it.
§ Mr. EdenWill the hon. Gentleman undertake that His Majesty's representatives abroad will never be asked to make a selection from the historic events which foreign countries celebrate?