§ 72. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the passage of 24 J.U. 82 Junker military aeroplanes over France from Germany to Spain during the night of. 18th–19th April; and whether the matter will be brought before the Non-Intervention Committee?
§ Viscount CranborneNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ManderHas the Noble Lord received any information on the subject from the French Government?
§ Viscount CranborneNo, Sir.
§ 74. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what reports he has received from His Majesty's naval officers, giving the dates on which warships under the command of General Franco have been observed in Spanish territorial waters adjacent to Bilbao, and giving the names of these ships?
§ Major-General Sir Alfred KnoxBefore answering this question will my right hon. Friend take into consideration the fact that a reply to the question might provide General Franco's enemies with valuable information?
§ The First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir Samuel Hoare)On 19th April I was informed that the commanding officers of the destroyers on the North Coast of Spain have frequently observed insurgent warships within the range of the Bilbao batteries. The batteries have never yet been seen by His Majesty's ships to fire. In addition to this information, on 9th April His Majesty's Ship "Beagle" observed the Spanish insurgent cruiser "Almirante Cervera" and armed merchant vessel "Galerna" firing at the battery at Muchichaco at ranges of between one and four miles. The battery did not reply.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes not that reply supply information to the Spanish Government?
§ Mr. DenvilleDo not these questions interfere in the letter and the spirit with observance of the Non-Intervention Agreement?