§ 9. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider, in connection with the proposals now before the Non-Intervention Committee for neutral inspection commissions at Spanish ports and aerodromes, whether this would not, in effect, in view of events of the last few months, be a further sanction against the Spanish Government; and whether the plan has met with the approval of the committee and has been submitted to or accepted by the Spanish Government and the rebels?
§ Mr. EDENI understand that the Non-Intervention Committee has agreed in principle that a scheme of this nature should be submitted to the two parties in Spain for their approval. The details of the scheme are still under consideration, and no approach has yet been made to the two parties. There is no question of the scheme being put into execution until the consent of both the Spanish Government and the Burgos authorities has been obtained.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is intended to go forward with the naval and military parts, without waiting for agreement on 394 the air part? Is it proposed to postpone consideration of the air agreement until the other parts have been put into effect?
§ Mr. EDENThese are matters for the committee. Perhaps the hon. Member would put down another question or see me about it.
§ 10. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the provisions of the pact of non-intervention, he will make representations to the French Government to the effect that they should not permit the departure of 2,000 French volunteers to join the Spanish combatants at Barcelona?
§ Mr. EDENThe question of the enlistment of volunteers is not covered by the Agreement regarding Non-Intervention in Spain, which relates only to the prohibition of the export of war material.
§ Sir A. KNOXHas the right hon. Gentleman taken notice of the report in the "Times" of the arrival of 2,000 French volunteers at Barcelona; and does he not think that, at any rate in spirit, that is a breach of the agreement?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed something nearer home—in the Irish Free State? Has he noticed that General O'Duffy and a party of volunteers are going out to fight in Spain?
§ Sir A. KNOXAre 40 Irishmen equal to 2,000 Frenchmen?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWe have always thought so.
§ 13. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the ban on the conveyance of war material by British vessels to Spain applies to commodities such as foodstuffs and coal?
§ Mr. SHINWELLDoes that mean that British vessels containing foodstuffs intended for the Spanish Government or Spanish traders will receive the protection of the British Navy?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable concern in shipping and coal circles as to the intended legislation; and will he, in the meantime, give them some assurance on this matter?
§ Mr. EDENI was quite clear about it. I said that it did not affect the items mentioned—foodstuffs or coal.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSDoes "war material" include cannon fodder?
§ Mr. EDENThe definition which will be applied will cover those articles of export which are already prohibited, under the non-intervention agreement.
15. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has information of any considerable amount of arms having been supplied from Russia to the Spanish Government at any date between the signing of the non-intervention pact by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and 15th October?
§ 19. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which countries, according to the information in his possession, have committed breaches of the non-intervention agreement; and whether he will disclose the information on which this is based and the periods during which the supplies in question were made?
§ Mr. EDENThere is certain evidence of arms having been supplied to Spain from various countries during the period mentioned in the hon. Lady's question. I have already explained that this information, in so far as we have been able to substantiate it, has been placed before the Non-Intervention Committee. I am, therefore, not able to make any further statement on the subject.
Miss RATHBONEHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to a statement made to the Press by a French delegation two days ago that M. Blum had told one of them personally only a day or two before that he knew of no evidence that any substantial amount of arms had been sent by Russia before 15th October, and does he agree with the accuracy of that statement?
§ Mr. EDENI think the hon. Lady will appreciate that I have troubles enough 396 without checking reported statements of other Prime Ministers at second-hand.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the right hon. Gentleman say which country it is that is more to blame in respect to breaches of the agreement than Germany and Italy? Is it Portugal, is it Japan, is it France, is it Russia?
§ 18. Viscount CASTLEREAGHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communication from the Spanish insurgent authorities regarding arrangements to minimise in any way the suffering in and destruction of Madrid during the present fighting?
§ Mr. EDENYes, Sir. In reply to a suggestion from His Majesty's Ambassador and certain of his colleagues at Henclaye, General Franco caused Sir H. Chilton to be informed on 20th November that he agreed to the extension by approximately one square mile of the security zone in Madrid. This area now includes the British and United States Embassies and several Legations. This area will, I trust, be of value in affording a zone of safety for non-combatants of all kinds.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman in a position to tell us that this will include any section of the working classes within Madrid, or is it just some special place such as the palaces of the great and wealthy of Madrid live in?
§ Mr. EDENOur objective is to try to get agreement about one area which will not be shelled. Into that area it is for those concerned to move people if they think fit, and I think the House will agree that that is satisfactory.
§ 20. Mr. NOEL-BAKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report concerning the arrest by Spanish rebel warships of the Norwegian vessel steamship "Lisken," which left Dundee on 7th November for Valencia with a cargo of seed potatoes, and which was forcibly conducted into the port of Vigo when her cargo was discharged; and whether he can give the House any information concerning the circumstances in which this violation of international law occurred.
§ Mr. EDENI understand that the master of the Norwegian steamship 397 "Lisken" has informed the naval authorities at Gibraltar that at 6 p.m. on 15th November he was stopped and interrogated by two Spanish armed trawlers wilen off Cape Finistere and 10 miles clear of land. One trawler went alongside and ordered the steamship "Lisken" to follow into Cape Finistere Bay. The master refused on the ground that he was well outside Spanish territorial waters, but an armed guard was then placed on board and the ship proceeded to Vigo. On arrival there, according to the master, the insurgent naval commander gave orders that the ship's cargo, which consisted of seed potatoes consigned to the Agricultural Department of the Spanish Government, should be confiscated. The ship is now at Gibraltar awaiting orders.
§ Mr. NOEL-BAKERIn view of the great importance of such offences to the maritime Powers of the world, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be possible for His Majesty's Government to take the initiative in organising a protest against the lawlessness of the rebels in these matters?
§ Mr. EDENNo, Sir; this is merely a matter for the Norwegian Government. Our own position has been, and remains, absolutely clear.
§ Mr. NOEL-BAKERBut is not the case that all maritime Powers have a common interest in assuring that the international law is kept by all countries, and could the right hon. Gentleman not therefore see his way to take some protest?
§ Mr. EDENI say that our position is absolutely clear. Other countries must take what action they think fit.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs this not clearly a case of piracy, and in that case is it not in the interest of Great Britain to see that piracy is put down, as we have done hitherto?
§ 25. Mr. NOEL-BAKERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what reports he has received from His Majesty's ship "Glowworm" concerning the firing of torpedoes by unidentified submarines against the Spanish Government warships "Miguel de Cervantes" and "Mendez Nunez" at the entrance to Cartagena harbour on 22nd November; and whether he can give any information to the House?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Sir Samuel Hoare)I have received reports which indicate that on 22nd November severe explosions occurred on board the Spanish cruiser "Miguel de Cervantes." The damage caused is stated to be consistent with damage due to torpedo attack. I have no information concerning the alleged attempt to torpedo the Spanish warship "Mendez Nunez."
§ Mr. NOEL-BAKERHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report in the Press that the Spanish Government have established that it was a torpedo which struck the vessel?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, I do not think I have. In any case, it is essentially a question for the Spanish Government.
§ Mr. NOEL-BAKERIn view of the fact that it is of vital interest to all Powers, including Great Britain, that the facts should be established, and in view of the fact that out of such incidents there is a danger that international war may arise, could the right hon. Gentleman not give instructions to His Majesty's ships in Spanish waters to make such reports as are possible to establish the facts when such incidents occur?
§ Sir S. HOARENo, Sir. It is of vital interest to the British Government that we should not interfere.
§ Sir RONALD ROSSWill my right hon. Friend entirely rule out the possibility of the damage being caused either by mine or torpedo fired from small craft?
§ Sir S. HOAREI do not think it is within my province to express any views about this matter. I have no official information to justify me in so doing.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHave we got a British warship at Cartagena from which the right hon. Gentleman could get reports?
§ Sir S. HOAREIf the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will put that question down, I will give him an answer.
§ Mr. A. HOPKINSONAre we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman, like the Foreign Secretary, proposes to mind his own business?
§ Sir S. HOAREYes, Sir.
§ 11. Sir EDWARD CAMPBELL(for Mr. LEWIS) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to make it clear to the Spanish authorities that those Members of both Houses of Parliament who are proceeding to Madrid and who have stated to the Press that they are a delegation of British Members of Parliament are, in fact, not a delegation from Parliament at all, but a number of private individuals who happen also to be Members of one or other of the Houses of Parliament?
§ Mr. EDENThe Members of both Houses of Parliament who are now visiting Spain do not, so far as I am aware, claim to represent Parliament as a whole. The purpose of their visit, which is purely humanitarian, has been made clear to the authorities both at Madrid and Burgos.
§ Mr. MANDERHave these Members gone with the right hon. Gentleman's knowledge and consent?
§ 14. Sir PERCY HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have approached Foreign Powers, members of the non-intervention committee, with a view to an agreement by which they will make it illegal for their nationals to use their ships to carry war material to Spanish ports; and, if so, what answers have been received?
§ Sir P. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to make such an approach? Surely it is equally important that other countries should not use their ships for this purpose?
§ Mr. EDENI am quite prepared to consider that, but I think it would be much the best if all other countries would observe the agreement, as we do.
§ Mr. BELLENGER(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Ambassador in Hendaye has yet received a reply from the Spanish rebel leader regarding safe anchorage for British shipping in Barcelona and whether, in view of the projected bombardment of that fort by rebel naval forces, His Majesty's Government 400 will take immediate steps to evacuate the British residents.
§ Mr. EDENThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is, No, Sir. As regards the second part, full facilities have been provided ever since the outbreak of hostilities, and are still being provided for the evacuation of British subjects from Barcelona. These British subjects have been repeatedly warned of the risks which they are incurring by declining to avail themselves of these facilities. His Majesty's Consul-General at Barcelona has, however, no powers to compel British subjects to leave against their will; and he has reported that there is at present no desire on the part of those still remaining to leave under threat of bombardment.
§ Mr. BELLENGERHas the right hon. Gentleman any hope of obtaining an answer in the very near future to His Majesty's Ambassador's representations?
§ Mr. EDENYes, Sir; we have received a reply in relation to all the other ports except Barcelona. I am asking for a reply with respect to Barcelona. I would deprecate any attempt to make more alarmist reports about this matter than are warranted by circumstances.