§ 23. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish a verbatim report of the proceedings of the international committee for the application of the agreement regarding non-intervention in Spain?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEThe Committee have decided that their proceedings shall be treated as confidential, and it is therefore not open to His Majesty's Government to publish a verbatim report. My hon. and gallant Friend is, however, no doubt aware that a communique of a full and informative character is given to the Press at the end of each meeting.
§ Sir A. KNOXWould not such a publication be very valuable in order to counteract the ex-parte statements now being published by other parties?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEIt was agreed by all the members of the committee that the present procedure was the most satisfactory from every point of view.
§ Mr. COCKSIn view of the fact that these proceedings are a farce, had not the Government better withdraw from this bogus committee?
§ 27. Mr. W. ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will issue as a White Paper the final form of the agreement on non-intervention in Spain, together with any reservations which may have been made by any of the signatory Powers?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEInformation regarding the terms of this agreement has already been published in the Press. But if, as I understand, it is the wish of the House that the actual documents concerned should be made available as a White Paper, my right hon. Friend will be glad to agree to it.
§ 47. Mr. COCKSasked the Prime Minister whether the Government would give facilities to an all-party delegation of Members of Parliament to proceed to Madrid in order by their presence to provide some check on the possibility, in the event of an insurgent victory, of heavy loss of life among the civilian population, including hostages?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)His Majesty's Government are in full sympathy with the desire expressed by the hon. Member that loss of life among the civilian population, including hostages, in Madrid, may as far as possible be avoided. The House will, indeed, be aware that His Majesty's Government have taken since the outset of the dispute all possible steps, both at Madrid and elsewhere, to mitigate the suffering and loss of life. Moreover, they have a representative in Madrid, in the person of Mr. Ogilvie Forbes, in whose activities in this as other matters they have complete confidence. I do not think, therefore, that the further action suggested by the hon. Member would in existing circumstances be likely to serve any useful purpose.
§ Mr. COCKSIn view of the massacre which followed the capture of Badajoz, will the Government take extra pains to see whether they cannot prevent a similar massacre following the fall of Madrid, especially in view of the fact that the Government have a responsibility in the matter of preventing arms for the defence of Madrid reaching Spain?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government have done, and are doing, all that they can, and with some results, but not with all the results we might have hoped for, to prevent the terrible outrages on either side in Madrid.
§ Mr. THORNEAre the Government getting from their representative in Madrid what is actually going on; if so, would it be advisable to circulate some information?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to put a specific question to the Foreign Secretary. I understand the anxiety of the House for information.
§ Mr. T. JOHNSTON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Messrs. MacMahon and Boyd, two members of the Scottish Ambulance Unit in Spain, have been captured by the rebel forces; and whether he will take whatever steps are possible to secure their release?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEMy right hon. Friend's attention was drawn yesterday evening to the reported capture of these two gentlemen, and he has this morning approached the authorities at Bourgos with a view to securing their release.