§ 3. Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any reply from General Franco to the protest against the mining of His Majesty's Ship "Hunter"; and whether His Majesty's Government are demanding compensation for the damage caused to this vessel?
§ 19. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs through what channel of communication the protest concerning the mining of His Majesty's Ship "Hunter" was sent to the Spanish insurgent authorities; and whether he has received any acknowledgement of his communication?
§ Mr. EdenA protest to the insurgent authorities was made through His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye. In this protest His Majesty's Government reserved the right to present a claim for loss or damage incurred in consequence of the accident. A reply was received yesterday by Sir Henry Chilton claiming that the disaster to His Majesty's Ship "Hunter" was caused by a mine moored in territorial waters. This is at variance with the facts of the case as reported by His Majesty's Ship "Hunter." I am at present considering the further steps which should be taken.
Vice-Admiral TaylorHas my right hon. Friend any evidence that this mine was laid by General Franco's forces?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill compensation be paid to relatives of men who lost their lives?
§ Mr. BellengerWas careful consideration given to the origin of this incident by His Majesty's Government before they decided to send a protest to General Franco?
§ 4. Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government's demand for the immediate release of the cargoes of the "Fernando L. de Ybarra" and the "Mar Baltico" has yet been complied with by General Franco?
§ Mr. EdenI would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my Noble Friend made in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White) on 24th May last. Since that time His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye has had further negotiations with the Salamancan authorities as a result of which they have now again placed the cargo of the "Mar Baltico" at the disposal of the British owners. Discussions are still proceeding as to how the cargo can best be transferred and shipped to the United Kingdom. This is, however, unfortunately not the case with the "Fernando L. de Ybarra" whose cargo, I understand, has already begun to be unloaded by the authorities in Pasajes and sent into the interior. Sir H. Chilton is continuing to press the authorities at Salamanca for an explanation of their conduct with regard to this case.
§ Mr. CocksIn view of the fact that a month has passed since the Government demanded the immediate release of these cargoes, would the right hon. Gentleman not consider fixing a time limit within which the Government expect a definite reply from Salamanca?
§ 5. Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the results of his inquiries into the alleged fortification by Germany of Ceuta and other places on the coast or Morocco?
§ Mr. EdenAs the result of inquiries which have been made in regard to fortifications on the Spanish Moroccan coast, His Majesty's Government do not consider that the position is such as to call for representations to the authorities in the Spanish zone. I may add that rumours as to the existence of German heavy guns at Ceuta have not been confirmed.
§ Major-General Sir Alfred KnoxHas it not been proved that all these reports are silly fabrications?
§ 7. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the statement by Rear-Admiral Raeder that orders were given in the "Deutschland" to open fire upon approaching Spanish aeroplanes before those aeroplanes had committed any hostile act, he will invite the German Foreign Secretary to co-operate in vetoing such reprisals as those sanctioned by the German Government against Almeria until evidence upon events held to justify such reprisals has been heard?
24. Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the report of Admiral Raeder, showing that the order to fire upon the Spanish aircraft from the "Deutschland" was given before the latter actually bombed the ship, has been brought to the notice of the Non-Intervention Committee or taken into account in any discussions of this incident between the German Ambassador and himself?
§ Mr. EdenI have seen what is stated to be an official German account of the incident in question based on reports from the Commander-in-Chief of the German Naval Forces in Spanish waters. According to this account the "Deutschland" was lying in the roadstead of Ibiza ready for action, but no shot was fired either by the "Deutschland" or the torpedo boat "Leopold" which was in company. As the House will be aware, the problem caused by the sequence of events which arose out of the attack on the "Deutschland" was closed by the agreement reached in London on 12th June when all relevant factors were under consideration. It is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to reopen this question.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will neither countenance nor co-operate in any reprisals in regard to such an incident as this until all the evidence, including that of the Spanish Government, has been heard?
Vice-Admiral TaylorHave not commanding officers of men-of-war a right to protect themselves against aerial or other attack, and to take such steps as they consider necessary in order to protect their ships?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs the right hon. Gentleman representing to the German Government that their reprisals at Almeria were a flagrant violation of the Kellogg Pact, to which Herr Hitler himself has said his country still adheres?
§ Mr. EdenThe hon. Member will recollect the statements which I made at the time. The incident is now closed, and I do not propose to reopen it.
§ 9. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to continue his efforts to secure the withdrawal of foreign troops from Spain in face of the statement by the head of the Italian Government that the Italian casualties at Guadalajara must be avenged?
§ 11. Mr. Lennox-Boydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any recent request from General Franco for the recognition of belligerency; and whether, if so, he will make known the terms of the request?
§ 23. Mr. Emmottasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the considerations which determine the attitude of His Majesty's Government to the request recently made to them that they should recognise the existence of a state of belligerency in Spain?
§ Mr. EdenThe attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the question of the recognition of belligerency in the Spanish dispute was explained to the 1172 House in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 19th April last. I have now received a communication from the Salamanca authorities containing a reasoned claim for recognition of belligerency. This communication is at present being examined.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydCannot recognition of belligerent rights be granted without in any way implying approval of the Nationalist rising, and would not correspondence between this country and General Franco be more satisfactorily conducted if we gave the ruler of 14,000,000 Spaniards full diplomatic recognition?
§ Mr. EdenThe answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is certainly "Yes." Belligerent rights can be granted without thereby giving any approval, but this question is of such a complicated nature that I do not think we can debate it by question and answer.
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennMay we take it that the Government will not change their point of view about according belligerent rights to General Franco without consulting the House of Commons?
§ Mr. EdenAny decision of course which His Majesty's Government come to has to have the approval of this House, but I can inform the House that there is no immediate change contemplated.
§ Mr. EmmottIs it not a fact that on the occasion to which the right hon. Gentleman refers he stated that the steps taken by His Majesty's Government with other Governments in the execution of the policy of non-intervention had so far belligerent rights? Must not full weight be attached to the words "so far"?
§ Miss WilkinsonCan the right hon. Gentleman present to the House any reasoned statement as to why he has refused belligerent rights to the democratically elected Government of Spain?
§ Mr. EdenThe hon. Lady is under a common misapprehension. Belligerent rights can only be granted to both sides.
§ Miss WilkinsonOn a point of Order. May I ask the Foreign Secretary whether he is presenting to the House a meaning of belligerent right entirely different from what is understood by a large number of people?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of Order.
13. Mr. Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to humanising the war in Spain, the Non-Intervention Committee will send observers to Bilbao to see that the occupation of the city by General Franco's forces is carried out with due regard to the principles of humanity.
§ Mr. EdenSuch evidence as has so far reached me through His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye is to the effect that the final occupation of Bilbao took place practically without bloodshed, and that the Basques who delivered up their arms were immediately set free, a small number of anarchists being held to be tried by tribunals. No question of action such as that suggested by the hon. Member therefore arises.
§ Mr. ThorneIs it not a fact that there was a good deal of blood shed before they got into Bilbao?
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not a fact that most of the population were killed?
§ Mr. DonnerIs it not also a fact that General Franco's troops were welcomed by enthusiasm and dancing on the part of the civil population as evidenced by photographs which have been published?
§ Miss HorsbrughCan my right hon. Friend give a definition of humanised war?
§ 14. Mr. Rileyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the congratulatory messages sent to General Franco by the heads of the Italian and German Governments on the capture of Bilbao by the insurgent forces; and, seeing that such messages are inconsistent with membership of the Non-Intervention Committee and the purpose for which it was created, what action he intends to take in the matter?
§ Mr. EdenI understand that statements to this effect have appeared in the Press, but the matter is not in any case one which would call for action by His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. RileyIf such messages were sent, would not the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Non-Intervention Committee to such an inconsistency?
§ Mr. EdenI do not think so. If people would observe the agreement apart from messages, I should be happier than I am.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWill my right hon. Friend also call attention to further messages sent by many Labour leaders to the defenders of Madrid.
§ 20. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information concerning the origin of the 12-inch artillery with which General Franco has recently bombarded Bilbao?
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir. I understand, however, that a number of 12-inch guns were supplied to the Spanish Government from this country some five or six years ago.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs there not evidence available to the effect that shells fired from these guns were German and that, from the kind of shells, it was evident that the guns were German, too?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill the Foreign Secretary make inquiries to assure himself that these were not Vickers guns which were in the possession of Spain, but were, in fact, German guns which must have been recently imported?
§ 22. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a decision has yet been taken by the Non-Intervention Committee regarding the scheme for the evacuation of foreign troops from Spain?
§ Mr. EdenI would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on this subject to a question asked by him on Monday last and to a question asked by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition yesterday.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs it not a fact that the Italian and German Governments agreed in principle to this scheme more than two months ago?
§ Mr. EdenNo, I am afraid it is not true that they agreed to this scheme, which had not then been put forward.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI mean to the principle of evacuation, and since there is a scheme, can we not hope for early results?
26. Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have protested to the insurgent leaders in Spain against the laying of mines inside as well as outside the three-mile limit; and, if not, whether the failure to make such protest implies a recognition of the right of either party in the conflict to lay mines within this limit or a belief that neither has in fact done so?
§ Mr. EdenI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. Sandys) on 7th June. I have nothing to add to that answer, except to state that General Franco's attention has been drawn to the terms of the rule laid down in Article 2 of the Hague Convention No. 8, which forbids the laying of mines off the coasts at ports of the enemy with the sole object of intercepting commercial navigation.
§ 10. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with regard to the alleged torpedo attack on the "Leipzig," in view of the recent Four Power Agreement?
§ 21. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement concerning the negotiations with regard to the alleged attack on the German warship "Leipzig"?
§ Mr. EdenAs the House will be already aware, at the meeting held yesterday afternoon to consider further the incidents in which the German cruiser "Leipzig" was involved, it was unfortunately found impossible to reach agreement on the measures which should be adopted in this case. The main point on which there was a difference of opinion was the question of making an immediate naval demonstration by the four Powers for the purpose of showing the flag off the coast of Valencia. On my instructions, His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin saw Baron von Neurath this morning when he was informed that the German Government regretted that it had not been possible to reach agreement, and that they therefore felt obliged to withdraw their ships altogether from the control system. Baron von Neurath said that this action was being taken with the specific intention of avoiding the possibility of an 1176 aggravation of the situation. Baron von Neurath added that the German Government would confine themselves to this action. His Majesty's Government gladly recognise and welcome the motives which inspire this assurance. I understand further that the German Government do not contemplate ceasing participation in the Non-Intervention Committee. The Italian Ambassador has since been to see me when he informed me that his Government had also decided to withdraw their ships from the control scheme.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of the fact that the withdrawal of the German and Italian Governments will seriously jeopardise the effectiveness of the control scheme, will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that steps will be taken to invite other Government to participate in place of those two Governments?
§ Mr. EdenThat is a question which will have to be considered. The House will appreciate the importance of the sentence in my answer which says that the German Government will confine themselves to this action.
Mr. Lloyd GeorgeWhat will be the effect of this on the policy of non-intervention as it was laid down and as it has been interpreted, as far as I know, by the British Government—whether the German and Italian Governments propose to stand by the Pact into which they entered with France and with ourselves not to send either troops or war materials to Spain? Does the action of the German Government affect that understanding and that actual Pact that was entered into?
§ Mr. EdenAs I understand the position, the statement is concerned solely with participation in the naval control scheme.
§ Sir Edward GriggWill my right hon. Friend tell the House the exact nature of the naval demonstration proposed by the German Government?
§ Mr. GallacherHave the Government taken any steps to find out if there is any truth at all in this story about the "Leipzig"?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat does not arise in this question.