SPAIN.

HC Deb 03 March 1937 vol 321 cc331-6

1. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British nationals now held as prisoners of war by the Spanish Government and by the rebel forces, respectively; and whether he will take action to secure their repatriation?

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

I have no information as to the number of British subjects held as prisoners of war by either side. As I said in the course of yesterday's Debate, the question of the withdrawal of foreign combatants in Spain is before the Non-Intervention Committee, and I will certaining consider suggesting that the committee should examine the question of the release of prisoners of war as part of the general question.

2. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any proposals are under consideration by the Non-Intervention Committee for the withdrawal of all foreign combatants in the Spanish civil war?

Mr. Eden

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Noble Friend to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire (Captain Briscoe) on 22nd February, and to the statement which I made on this subject in the course of yesterday's Debate, to which I have nothing at present to add.

Mr. Bellenger

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that His Majesty's Government will press as far as they can on the Non-Intervention Committee for an early withdrawal of these combatants in Spain?

Mr. Eden

Yes, certainly, but the hon. Member will know how complicated and difficult the question is.

4. Mr. Mander

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements are contemplated by the Non-Intervention Committee to secure that none of the foreign naval units carrying out the blockade themselves participate in offensive operations on the coast of Spain?

Mr. Eden

The scheme of naval observation which is under discussion by the International Committee provides that the ships of certain Powers will be allotted zones off the Spanish coast in the occupation of that party to the conflict which is opposed to the party with whose policy the Government in question is in sympathy. This scheme appears to present the best practicable method of ensuring an impartial application of the scheme of observation.

Mr. Mander

What is to stop such States as care to do so firing on the coast? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is proposed that there shall be British ships in various ports, such as Valencia and Barcelona, under the control of the Spanish Government?

Mr. Eden

I do not share the apprehensions of the hon. Member. There are risks in any situation, but I think that the risks will be less once the scheme is in force than they have been hitherto. We are, of course, taking our share—rather a full share.

Mr. Mander

In view of the fact that there are British ships in certain of the ports of Spain, will they continue to be there under the new conditions?

Mr. Eden

I rather think that those ships are occupied in the transport of refugees. Perhaps the hon. Member will put the question down.

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is grave misgiving in many quarters with regard to the arrangements made in the Mediterranean for the supervision of this business?

Mr. Eden

I am not aware of that.

7. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have considered the possibility of offering mediation in the Spanish dispute, either in conjunction with other governments or otherwise; and whether he can make a statement on this matter?

Mr. Eden

The question as to whether His Majesty's Government can take any steps to provide a basis of negotiation between the contending parties in Spain is constantly being considered in the light of developments. I regret to say that up to the present His Majesty's Government have received no indication that either party are prepared to consider mediation of any nature.

Mr. Sorensen

Is the right hon. Gentleman acquainted with the attitude of the French Government in this matter and is he likely to get into touch with the French Government to consider this possibility?

Mr. Eden

As far as I am aware the attitude of the French Government in this matter is entirely the same as our own.

14. Lieut.-Commander Tufnell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the developments which have recently taken place with regard to non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War, he will now see whether it is possible to arrange for concerted action by the Powers concerned for the furtherance of humanitarian work in Spain, in order to prevent unnecessary suffering through famine and disease?

Mr. Eden

The hon. Member will recall that, in reply to a question asked by the right hon. Member for Limehouse (Mr. Attlee) on 15th February, my Noble Friend stated that His Majesty's Government were considering whether the question of any international relief action could now be further profitably examined. It was accordingly pointed out to the Spanish Government that, while His Majesty's Government were ready to give all possible transport facilities to the principal British relief organisations working on Spanish territory, they could not by themselves assume responsibility for the provision of relief, but that they would be ready to consider sympathetically proposals for an international initiative on the lines proposed by them at Geneva in December last. To this the Spanish Government replied that, thanks to the help already afforded by His Majesty's ships and to supplies collected from the interior, they had now collected sufficient food to meet the situation, although the assistance of private relief organisations would continue to be urgently required. At the same time I can assure the hon. Member that, in the event of the Spanish Government modifying their attitude, His Majesty's Government will be ready to take the initiative once more in this matter.

20. Colonel Wedgwood

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, in the recent affair of the "Havock" and "Gipsy," the anti-aircraft guns were not used against the aircraft instead of machine guns?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Lord Stanley)

If the right hon. Gentleman will refer to the reply given to him on 24th February, he will observe that both the main armament, which is adapted for use against aircraft, and the machine guns, which are specially provided for that purpose, were fired.

Colonel Wedgwood

As that answer shows that machine guns were used and that 4.7 guns were fitted on the ships, may I ask the Noble Lord whether he has ever tried, as I have, to shoot at an aeroplane with a machine gun, which is only less ridiculous than shooting at it with a 4.7 gun; and, further, why the anti-aircraft guns which were provided for that purpose were not used?

Lord Stanley

The 4.7 guns were adapted for use as anti-aircraft guns.

Mr. Alexander

Is it not the custom to fit the new multi-barrelled anti-aircraft guns, and why were they not used?

Lord Stanley

No, Sir, they were not fitted.

Colonel Wedgwood

Were there any of these multi-barrelled anti-aircraft guns on board these boats, and, if so, why were they not used?

Lord Stanley

The answer is that they were not fitted to these boats.

Mr. Garro Jones

If the aircraft were at such a low altitude as to be within range of machine guns, how did it come about that they were missed when the 4.7 guns were used?

Lord Stanley

They did not fire until the bombs had been dropped. They were not under war conditions, and therefore, naturally, did not open fire as early as they would otherwise have done.

75. Mr. Macquisten

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of gold has been exported from Spain to this country since the civil war started?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Lieut.-Colonel Colville)

7,680 troy ounces of gold, value £49,089, were imported from Spain in the period 19th July, 1936, to 1st March, 1937.

Mr. Macquisten

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman know how much has come from Spain through France?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

No, Sir.

Mr. Macquisten

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman know whether this money has gone to the credit of the Soviet Republic?

Mr. Thorne

Is it not a fact that the gold has been exported from Spain to pay for their imports?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

I could not say for what reasons it has been exported.

13. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher (for Mr. E. J. Williams)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the case where the crew of the British steamer "Lenaria," at Boston, Massachusetts, have refused to load a cargo of nitrates consigned to the Spanish insurgents, whether nitrate is on the list of commodities prohibited by the Non-Intervention Committee; and, seeing that trading with the insurgents in Spain is an act which should not be countenanced by a friendly Power like Britain, whether he will take action to protect these British subjects exercising their right not to assist the enemies of a friendly Power?

Mr. Eden

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my Noble Friend gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Limehouse (Mr. Attlee) on Friday last. In doing so I should like to make it clear that His Majesty's Government have no information to lead them to suppose that the shipment in question was other than part of a normal business transaction with which it is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to interfere.