SPAIN. (Hansard, 6 July 1937)

§ 61. Mr. Cocks
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the results of his inquiries respecting the alleged shipping of poison gas from Hamburg to Spain?

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Cranborne)
Inquiries were made of His Majesty's Consul-General at Hamburg at the time when this matter was first brought to my right hon. Friend's attention. The Consul-General replied that he had received no evidence to confirm the truth of the report.

§ Mr. Attlee
(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Non-Intervention Committee will meet, and whether he has any statement to make with regard to the present position on non-intervention?

§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)
I understand that a plenary meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee is being called for Friday. The policy of His Majesty's Government remains as explained by the representative of the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Chairman's Sub-Committee last Friday, and in the statement which I made in the House yesterday.

§ Mr. Attlee
May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman realises the seriousness of this delay in a position in which the non-intervention system is not really working, and the fact that, on previous occasions, there has always been action taken in what is called a pause; and is there no possibility of getting a quicker action on the Non-Intervention Committee?

§ Mr. Eden
We have, of course, considered that. On the other hand, His Majesty's Government have made their own position quite plain, and we have not only made our own proposals but we have declared our willingness and readiness to consider any other proposals which are just and fair. In the circumstances, I think a little time for reflection on the serious issues involved may even prove useful.

§ Mr. Attlee
What steps are to be taken during this time to see that arms and supplies are not poured in through the Portuguese frontier, or by sea or by air?

§ Mr. Eden
So far as the sea is concerned, the gap, if it benefits anyone, will benefit the Spanish Government. So far as the Portuguese frontier is concerned, as I told the House yesterday, the decrees are still in force, and I see no reason to suppose that that frontier will be abused. I would point out that there would be no utility in such a move, even to General Franco himself.

§ Mr. Attlee
Is there not every reason to believe that these regulations have always been abused in the past, and what is the ground for the right hon. Gentleman thinking that they will not be abused now?