§ 3. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before taking action concerning the threatened bombardment of Barcelona, he has consulted the Admiralty as to the practicability of any fleet attacking an armed port in view of our experience of the Great War?
§ Mr. EDENThe only action required or taken by His Majesty's Government in this matter has been to pass on the warning to the British shipping concerns and to ask the insurgent authorities to indicate a safe anchorage for shipping, which, as the House is aware, they have now done.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a threat to bombard Barcelona would obviously be an idle threat, in view of our experiences during the Great War?
§ Mr. EDENI am not responsible for our action, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are not going to bombard Barcelona.
§ 9. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the application by the Spanish Government for a special meeting of the Council of the League of Nations; when this will take place; and who will be the British representative?
§ Mr. EDENThe council will meet on 10th December at Geneva to consider the Spanish communication. The United Kingdom representative will be either my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary or myself.
§ 11. Mr. KELLYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether employés of the Admiralty at Gibraltar who live in Spain are able to go to and from their work without hindrance; whether in Spain any penalties have been imposed on these workers; and what increase has been made in the cost of transport for these people?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Samuel Hoare)Admiralty employés residing in Spain are allowed to proceed to and from their work in Gibraltar without hindrance, provided they are in possession of the necessary identity cards. These include two Spanish permits as follow:
(1) A municipal identity card issued by the local Spanish authorities, which has been in existence for many years. The charge for this card varies with the income of the holder and the charge for workmen has recently been increased to 4.40 pesetas. The card is available for one year.
(2) A pass introduced by the insurgent authorities. The cost of this is 25 centimes, but in the case of those regularly employed in Gibraltar, it is a non-recurring charge.
No penalties have been imposed on Admiralty employés, but, in common with all Spaniards, they are required to change sterling wages earned in Gibraltar into Spanish currency at La Linea at a rate fixed from time to time by the authorities, and no one may take Spanish paper money into Spain or bring silver coinage out. Transport costs have not been increased.
§ Mr. KELLYDoes this apply to those Admiralty employés who are employed on the fuel works that are owned by private individuals still; and why is it that they are not allowed to change pesetas into British currency in Gibraltar?
§ Sir S. HOAREI should want, notice of the first supplementary question. The answer to the second is that I am informed that this regulation affects not only workmen working in Gibraltar, but all persons going to or from Spain.
§ Mr. KELLYSince when has this arrangement as to the changing of their money applied? Is it a fact that formerly they changed their money in Gibraltar?
§ Sir S. HOAREI could not answer that question without notice.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhat is the authority which from time to time fixes the exchange value of British currency in Spanish currency? Is that authority the Spanish Government, or is it the rebel Government?
§ Sir S. HOAREI would prefer to say, the Spanish authorities.
§ 12. Mr. BELLENGERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the strength of the German and Italian naval forces now in Spanish waters?
§ Sir S. HOAREMy information is that the German naval forces now in Spanish waters consist of two cruisers and six; the Italian naval forces of one cruiser, one flotilla leader and two destroyers.
§ 13. Mr. BELLENGERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the strength of the British naval forces now in Spanish waters?
§ Sir S. HOAREOne battleship, one cruiser, one depot ship and seven destroyers are in Spanish ports; three destroyers and one cruiser are at Gibraltar and Tangier respectively and three destroyers are at St. Jean de Luz; also one destroyer is on its way to Marseilles to disembark refugees.
§ Mr. BELLENGERIn view of the extra duties which will be thrown on the British Navy in Spanish waters by the passing of the Merchant Shipping Bill last night, has the right hon. Gentleman any proposals to augment these forces in Spanish waters?
§ Sir S. HOAREWe shall consider the situation as it arises.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs the First Lord aware that the statement he has just made was regarded as not being in the public interest by his colleague last night?