§ 64. Mr. Grenfellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give the House as to the position of affairs in Spain?
§ 66. Mr. Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement respecting Spain and the attempts at mediation?
§ 67. Sir G. Mitchesonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make on the situation in Spain?
§ Mr. EdenI hope to have an opportunity later to-day of making a full statement on the present situation arising out of the Spanish conflict. Perhaps hon. Members will be good enough to wait till then.
Captain Arthur Evans(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to report to the House concerning the alleged incident in Spanish waters early this month when the Cardiff steamer, "Bramhill," was stopped off Cape Tarifa and fired upon by the armed Spanish Nationalist trawler "Larache" and whether His Majesty's Government have lodged a protest with the Spanish Nationalist authorities?
§ Mr. EdenYes, Sir. It has been reported to His Majesty's Government that the "Bramhill" was fired upon by the insurgent armed trawler "Larache" on Tuesday, 12th January, outside territorial waters off Cape Tarifa. His Majesty's ship "Sussex," which arrived immediately on the scene in response to an appeal for assistance from the "Bramhill," and on whose approach the Spanish vessel departed, ascertained that the "Bramhill" carried no contraband cargo, and that her papers were in order. His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye has been instructed to enter a protest with the insurgent authorities against this case of interference with a British ship on the high seas.
§ Mr. ThurtleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we prefer his use of the term "insurgent" to the use of the term "nationalist"?
§ Mr. Maxton(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to proceed with the 31 ban on volunteers from this country to Spain, in view of the attitude of other countries involved; and if so whether he regards the Foreign Enlistment Act as giving him the necessary statutory powers?
§ Mr. EdenYes, Sir. The question is not so much one of imposing a ban but of enforcing the existing law of the land in cases where there is sufficient evidence of an offence having been committed, and the necessity for doing this is not dependent on the action of other countries.
§ Mr. MaxtonIn reference to the latter part of my question, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Foreign Enlistment Act does actually apply to a situation of this description that is presently existing in Spain, and has he seen a contradictory view expressed very strongly by eminent lawyers in the public Press and in other places?
§ Mr. EdenYes, Sir. Of course, that is not a matter for the Foreign Office, but we have been advised that the Act does apply, and that is the whole point.
§ Mr. ThorneWhy did the Government not put the ban into operation when General O'Duffy sent a number of men from Liverpool?
§ Mr. MacquistenIf very young men from this country are so foolish as to interfere in this dispute, ought we not just to let them do so?
§ Mr. MaxtonHow does it come about that the Law Officers and the police authorities of this country have ignored the existence of this particular statute until the Foreign Office instructed them to operate it?
§ Mr. EdenI am going to deal with this subject later in the day, and with the leave of the hon. Member I would rather deal with it then, when I can do so more fully and in a more satisfactory form.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that the Foreign Secretary never became interested in volunteers until the volunteers stopped Franco from entering Madrid?