§ 1. Captain RAMSAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps His Majesty's Government have taken or propose to take under the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870, against those British subjects who have proceeded to Spain in order to take active part in the civil war in that country?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Donald Somervell)I have been asked to reply. I have had some information which is under consideration. If my honourable Friend has himself any information on the subject I should be glad if he would communicate it to me.
§ Captain RAMSAYCan I have the Attorney-General's assurance that if the Act in question does not cover active intervention in a civil war, he will take steps to see that it should be made to do so and that legislation will be introduced for that purpose?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALThat does not rest with me.
§ Mr. ATTLEEIs it not a fact that the Foreign Enlistment Act could not apply to affairs in Spain unless recognition was given to General Franco?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALWe cannot, obviously, discuss legal questions across the Floor of the House, but I do not think that is so.
§ Captain RAMSAYAre we to understand that the Government propose to take no steps whatever to prevent His Majesty's subjects fighting in this war if they so desire?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALNo, Sir that is not so.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the Attorney-General give an assurance that no unilateral action will be taken in this matter?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALWhat I have to do is to see that the law is enforced if breaches of the law are brought to my attention. Whether that is unilateral action or not, I do not know.
§ 21. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what action has, within the last three weeks, been taken by Spanish or other ships to interfere with the passage of shipping to Spanish ports; and whether any British vessels have been stopped?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)I am unable to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, I am not aware of any instance of a British ship being interfered with by a Spanish warship during the last three weeks.
§ 22. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to the closer application of non-intervention in Spain to both munitions and men, and what men voluntarily or as conscripts have reached Spain during the last three weeks?
§ Mr. EDENIn reply to the first part of the Question, I hope to have an opportunity of dealing with the present position with regard to non-intervention in the course of the Debate to-day. With regard to the second part, I have not sufficient 2795 information on which to base any reliable estimate of the number of foreigners who have reached Spain in the last few weeks.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the right hon. Gentleman give an estimate within 5,000 or 10,000?
Miss RATHBONEHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been directed to statements from correspondents of several British Conservative newspapers in Berlin that Germany has 60,000 men ready to start for Spain?
§ 24. Captain RAMSAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the House any information on the subject of the conclusion of a secret agreement between France and the Spanish Communist leaders for a supply of arms to the latter?
Miss RATHBONEIs it not the case that the proportion of Communist leaders in the Spanish Government and Parliament is exceedingly small, and that they would be unlikely to be able to conduct any agreement?
§ Mr. EDENI think it would be incorrect to describe one side as exclusively Communist or the other side as Fascist.
§ 25. Captain RAMSAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the conflicting information reaching this House regarding the atrocities and executions by the respective factions in the Spanish civil war, he will give the House any information on the subject received from His Majesty's representatives in Madrid and Barcelona?
§ Mr. EDENI have heard from His Majesty's Representatives in Madrid and Barcelona and from other sources of executions carried out in those towns. I have also received unconfirmed information of executions in insurgent territory. Such information by its very nature is difficult to confirm, and it is not possible 2796 to give the House any specific instances. But from the facts at my disposal, it is unfortunately not possible to deny that executions have taken place on a deplorable scale.
§ Captain RAMSAYIs it not fair to assume from the reply that the executions on the part of the Red leaders are far more numerous than those on the other side?
§ Mr. EDENI think I would rather say that I am not prepared to differentiate. I think the House and the country have an equal contempt for this practice whoever indulges in it.