SPAIN.

HC Deb 12 July 1937 vol 326 cc837-46

4 and 5. Mr. Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether any reply has yet been received from the German Government to the suggestion made by His Majesty's Government on 18th May that there should be an international inquiry into the destruction of Guernica, and to His Majesty's Government's reminder on 28th May that no reply had been received?

(2) whether, in view of the opposition of the Governments of Italy and Portugal to the proposed international inquiry into the destruction of Guernica, this proposal has now been abandoned; and, if so, whether he will give the House the information on the subject received from British consular and diplomatic authorities which he had intended to place at the disposal of the inquiry?

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) on this subject on 21st June. In view of the position as disclosed therein, which remains unchanged, it has not proved possible to pursue the question of an international inquiry. No British official was present at Guernica at the time of its destruction. His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye has, therefore, received no first-hand evidence from any official under his jurisdiction on which he could base a considered report on the circumstances in which the destruction of Guernica took place.

6. Mr. Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any copy of the decrees issued by General Franco abolishing the fiscal autonomy of the Basques and forbidding the use of the Basque language; and whether he can give the House any information on the subject?

Mr. Eden

I have received a translation of a Decree-Law, signed by General Franco at Burgos on 23rd June last, annulling as regards the provinces of Guipuzcoa and Vizcaya the Fiscal Agreement concerted between General Primo de Rivera's Government and the Basque Provinces in 1925, while confirming the maintenance of this Agreement with the Basque province of Alava. I am not aware of the existence of any decree issued by General Franco and forbidding the use of the Basque language.

Mr. Macquisten

If that is the case is not he only following the example of the English Government after Culloden, when they forbade Gaelic and took away the land from the clans?

Mr. Eden

That is perhaps not a very good example.

7. Mr. Kennedy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fortification by Germany of the coastline adjacent to Gibraltar and to the fact that the guns, which expert opinion assumes are able to dominate the harbour, are only to be dismantled if and when General Franco is victorious in the Spanish war; and whether any assurances have been received by the Government from General Franco on this point?

Mr. Eden

I understand that it is the case that General Franco has installed batteries on the coast between Algeciras and Tarifa. My information does not, however, bear out the Press reports to the effect that German experts have assisted in mounting these batteries. The position is naturally being kept under close review, but I am unable to make any further statement at present.

Mr. Kennedy

Can an answer be given to the last part of my question? Have assurances been given?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir, that is covered by the last part of my answer—I cannot add anything at present to that.

Mr. Ede

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whence General Franco obtained the guns which are mounted?

Duchess of Atholl

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the range of the guns?

Mr. Eden

I cannot add anything to what I have said.

9. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the allegations contained in the controlled Italian Press that this country had intervened in the Spanish war?

Mr. Eden

As the hon. Member is already aware, His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome was instructed to make representations on the subject to the Italian Government, in the course of which he was to make it clear that these allegations were entirely without foundation. These instructions were duly carried out.

Mr. Henderson

Does that mean that no reply has been received from the Italian Government?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir, I do not think so.

Mr. Henderson

Do His Majesty's Government intend to press the Italian Government for a reply to their representations, in view of the fact that Signor Mussolini must have had this evidence before him when he wrote the article?

Mr. Eden

I think we have made our position absolutely clear not only on this occasion but in the speech by Lord Plymouth on Friday last, and in my own statement in the country.

Mr. Henderson

Is it not regrettable that the Italian Premier should make a statement— [Interruption].

11. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any negotiations are in hand between General Franco and British representatives regarding the Bilbao mines; if so, who are the British representatives in question; and whether His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye is privy to or taking part in the negotiations?

Mr. Eden

No negotiations regarding the Bilbao mines have, so far as I am aware, been started between General Franco and representatives of the British interests concerned.

13. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of General Franco's recent statement that the withdrawal of foreign volunteers from Spain is impossible of realisation; and whether representations will be made to him to reconsider his opposition?

20. Mr. Vyvyan Adams

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress has been made in securing the withdrawal from the theatre of the Spanish civil war of all non-Spanish nationals?

Mr. Eden

As the hon. Members will be aware, at the Plenary meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee held on Friday last—I am answering a Private Notice Question on this at the end of Questions—His Majesty's Government were entrusted by the Committee with a discretionary mandate to continue negotiations for a solution of the present situation. They are at present actively engaged on this task, and I should prefer at the moment not to make any statement on individual points affecting the principle of non-intervention as a whole.

Mr. Henderson

Will not the Foreign Secretary answer the particular point contained in my question?

Mr. Eden

I really do not think that it does arise out of the negotiations as a whole, and I do not want to go into the details before the House has heard what I have to say.

Mr. Macquisten

Is it not the case that the Spanish Government naturalised all who were volunteers on their behalf?

17. Miss Wilkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to set any precedent of granting belligerent rights to insurgent forces against a duly elected government?

Mr. Eden

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Numerous precedents already exist for the recognition by His Majesty's Government, should they think fit, as belligerents, of insurgents against the constitutional government of a country.

Miss Wilkinson

Would not this be tantamount to a recognition of piracy, while a civil war is going on?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Does not this question, like many others, suffer from a confusion of mind which believes that the granting of belligerent rights is a favour, and not the recognition of a fact?

22. Mr. Wedgwood Benn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether General Franco has consented to receive a British Consul at Bilbao, and on what terms?

Mr. Eden

As the House will be aware, His Majesty's Consul left Bilbao shortly before its capture by General Franco's forces. It is the desire of His Majesty's Government that a Consul should return to Bilbao as soon as possible and an official has, in fact, already proceeded to that city in order to take possession of the Consular offices and archives.

Mr. Benn

Is it not true that General Franco has refused to permit a Consul to function in Bilbao unless he receives belligerent rights?

Mr. Eden

I understand that that is not so.

53. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as British ships are clearing daily for Spanish ports, he will instruct, as distinct from advising, them if they are or are not entitled to enter Spanish territorial waters; and, if they are so entitled, issue instructions to ships of His Majesty's Navy to afford all necessary protection against interference by rebel naval forces to British ships inside Spanish territorial waters to enable them to execute their lawful sailing orders?

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Duff Cooper)

The function of the Admiralty so far as communications with merchant shipping are concerned, is confined to giving information as to the state of affairs actually existing off the coast of Spain and practical advice based on that information. As regards the protection of British merchant ships inside Spanish territorial waters, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I am giving to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell), that as regards protection inside territorial waters, I have nothing to add to the answer given by my predecessor.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Is it, or is it not the case that the rebel Spanish Naval Forces have no right to interfere with British shipping inside or outside Spanish territorial waters?

Mr. Cooper

That is not a question on which I could give a ruling. It should not be addressed to the Admiralty.

Miss Wilkinson

When the right hon. Gentleman gets information from his observers, would he be prepared to hand it over to the Foreign Office, which consistently gives the answer that it has no information as to what is happening in these waters?

Miss Rathbone

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in contradiction of the assurance given on 21st April, the "Almirante Cervera" fired from outside territorial waters on a ship inside territorial waters? Is not that a violation of what the First Lord stated, and what action is going to be taken about it?

Mr. Cooper

The "Almirante Cervera" did not fire on a British ship. She fired across her bows in order to exercise control over her.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

At the time she fired this shot, was she outside the three-mile limit?

Mr. Cooper

The British ship was inside the three-mile limit.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

As the protection of British shipping is the function of the Admiralty, is it not the duty of the Admiralty to inform itself how the law stands on this question of the protection of British shipping inside and outside Spanish territorial waters?

Lieut.-Commander Agnew

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies—

Mr. Speaker

I think we had better have one question at a time.

Mr. Cooper

As the hon. and gallant Gentleman is well aware, the legal questions that arise out of the present situation in Spain are extremely complicated. I doubt whether an international jurist could give a ruling as to the exact position. I am not prepared to give such a ruling, and I do not think it is my business to do so.

Mr. Noel-Baker

If the right hon. Gentleman has not yet had a ruling on this point, on what ground has he decided to allow General Franco to exercise belligerent rights and prevent British ships from entering Spanish ports?

Mr. Cooper

The position with regard to territorial waters has been perfectly plain from the first. We have never extended British protection to British ships inside territorial waters.

Several hon. Members rose

—

Mr. Speaker

We cannot debate this question.

Mr. Denville

On a point of Order. Are my hon. Friends opposite not allowed to put supplementary questions?

12. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

(for Mr. Bellenger) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he accepts the contention of the Spanish insurgent authorities that His Majesty's Ship "Hunter" was damaged by a mine moored in territorial waters; and whether any further communications have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Spanish insurgent authorities on this subject?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government do not accept the contention that this ship was damaged by a mine moored in territorial waters. The question of a claim for compensation is now under consideration. While this is being examined between the Departments concerned no further communications have passed between His Majesty's Government and the insurgent authorities.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Is it the case that the full cost of the damage has not yet been ascertained?

Mr. Eden

I should like to have notice of that question.

Mr. Attlee

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the present position with regard to Non-Intervention.

Mr. Eden

As the House is aware, a plenary meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee was held on Friday last. The committee had before them the proposals submitted by the French and United Kingdom Governments and by the German and Italian Governments respectively for filling the existing gap in the work of the international naval patrol off the coasts of Spain. A general discussion took place, in the course of which it became clear that no agreement could be reached in favour of either set of proposals. The representatives of the French and United Kingdom Governments and of the German and Italian Governments maintained the respective points of view of their Governments. In reply to certain criticisms which were levelled against His Majesty's Government, Lord Plymouth stated that, if all the other Powers had observed the Non-Intervention Agreements in the letter and the spirit, as His Majesty's Government had done, the position in Spain would now be very different. The representatives of a number of other countries expressed the views of their Governments, which emphasised the importance of maintaining the principle of non-intervention and were generally in favour of the Franco-British proposals. The chairman made it clear that His Majesty's Government were ready to consider any practical proposals which might be put forward.

At the close of the meeting, the committee unanimously agreed, on the proposal of the representative of the Netherlands, that a mandate to seek agreement should be entrusted to His Majesty's Government. While conscious of the difficulty of their task and of the fact that its realisation must depend upon a greatly increased measure of international cooperation, His Majesty's Government considered it their duty to accept this mandate. They are fully aware of the urgency of the problem and are at present actively engaged in the necessary work. It is, in any event, the intention of His Majesty's Government to make a report to the Non-Intervention Committee this week.

The French Government have announced that, as from to-morrow, they will suspend the control facilities now afforded to foreign observers on the Franco-Spanish frontier, unless the control on the Portuguese frontier has previously been re-established. I understand, however, that the observers will be allowed to remain at their posts and that the relevant French decrees still remain in force.

Mr. Attlee

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether there is any time limit for these further discussions, in view of the fact that the continuance of a one-sided non-intervention endangers peace and is unfair to the Spanish Government?

Mr. Eden

I understand that the question of a time limit was raised in the Committee, but the Committee preferred not to fix one, and to leave the matter with His Majesty's Government. I can, however, assure the House that we are fully alive to the need for urgency in attempting to meet the situation, and that is why I have stated that in any event, we shall make a report to the Committee this week.

Mr. Attlee

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the nature of the proposals now proposed to be made, in view of the complete disagreement between the Powers and the complete breakdown of non-intervention?

Mr. Eden

I do not think the right hon. Gentleman can really ask me to do that at this stage. We have been given this mandate. We shall exercise it as rapidly and as efficiently as we can. Of course, we shall make a report to the Committee which has charged us with this mandate, at the first possible moment.

Duchess of Atholl

In exercising this extremely important mandate will my right hon. Friend bear in mind what he said in March as to the urgency of getting non-Spaniards out of Spain at the earliest possible moment, and also the importance of establishing air control as well as naval control if the scheme is to be an impartial one?

Mr. Eden

The Noble Lady can rest assured that we are fully alive to the importance of those matters.

Mr. A. Henderson

May I ask whether the decision of the French Government to suspend control of their frontier meets with the full approval of His Majesty's Government?

Mr. Eden

Lord Plymouth has already explained to the Committee that in our view the French action is reasonable in view of what has happened on the Portuguese frontier.

Mr. Attlee

Will His Majesty's Government also take action with a view to restoring to the Spanish Government its full rights?

Mr. Eden

The right hon. Gentleman is mistaken. The French Government have not done that. Their frontier remains closed. All that they have done is to withdraw the facilities for observers, because the Portuguese Government have done so. The frontier remains closed.

Mr. Attlee

I know, but will not the right hon. Gentleman urge that steps should be taken to restore their rights to the Spanish Government instead of allowing, in effect, a one-sided control to be kept on week after week?

Mr. Eden

The right hon. Gentleman and the House must appreciate that having been charged with this task by 27 nations, we had no alternative but to refuse it or to do our best to realise it rapidly. We have chosen the latter course.

Lieut.-Commander Agnew

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what effect the French intended action to suspend the control is calculated to have?

Mr. Eden

I think the French Government felt that the Portuguese Government having suspended observers from their duties for the time being, they were entitled to take similar action.

Captain Heilgers

Can the Foreign Secretary say whether the observers will continue to make their reports to the appropriate authority?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir, I should imagine not.