§ 8. Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any right of search or interception is possessed by the several navies now operating in Spanish waters under the direction of the Non-Intervention Committee?
§ Viscount CranborneThe hon. Member is no doubt referring to the proposed scheme of naval observation which is not yet in operation. I understand that it is proposed to publish the scheme as soon as adopted by the committee as a White Paper, and I should prefer not to make any statement in the meantime.
§ 16. Sir W. Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a British vessel left Marseilles last week for Spain with a large cargo of rifles, cartridges and shells; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?
§ Viscount CranborneI have no information on this subject.
§ 18. Brigadier-General Sir Henry Croftasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as to the capture last week of two vessels proceeding to Spanish ports laden with tanks, guns, and quantities of other war material; and whether he can give 776 an assurance that this war material was not shipped from any State which was a party to the Non-Intervention Agreement?
§ Viscount CranborneI have no information on this subject.
§ Sir H. CroftAre the Government informed, generally, about ships which are presumed to be captured, by one side or the other, and is a list printed for His Majesty's Government?
§ Viscount CranborneI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. ThurtleOn a point of Order. Is it in order for hon. Gentlemen to put down questions of this character based on the merest hearsay?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am afraid it is often done.
§ Sir W. DavisonMay I point out with regard to my question on the Paper, that I had it on the most undoubted and reputable authority?
§ Mr. George GriffithsThey always are.
§ 27. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information from the Spanish insurgent leaders as to the situation on the borders of the Spanish zone of Morocco?
§ Viscount CranborneA Note dated 3rd March has been received by His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye from the Spanish authorities at Salamanca, complaining of French activities in the Spanish zone of Morocco in contravention of Treaty obligations. I expect to receive the text of the Note shortly.
§ 28. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the danger to shipping by mines laid in Spanish waters and the Supervisory Agreement concluded by the Non-Intervention Committee, His Majesty's Government will now press for the removal of all mines laid in the vicinity of the Spanish coast?
§ Viscount CranborneThe question of mines laid by either side which the hon. Member raises does not fall within the scope of the Supervisory Agreement concluded by the Non-Intervention Committee. His Majesty's Government have, however, this and similar matters constantly in mind.
§ Mr. BellengerIs the Noble Lord fully aware of the danger to the lives of British citizens engaged on lawful business in this area, and does he not, therefore, think that it is a suitable matter to press before the Non-Intervention Committee?
§ Viscount CranborneI understand that the agreement which has been negotiated does not cover those particular points. I quite realise the point which the hon. Gentleman made; the only question is what can possibly be done.
§ Mr. BellengerWill the Noble Lord press this matter?
§ Mr. Attlee (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make on the recent deliberations of the Non-Intervention Committee, and can be state the reason for the delay in imposing the ban upon volunteers?
§ Viscount CranborneThe Non-Intervention Committee is to-day considering a scheme of observation of the Spanish land and sea frontiers, which has been accepted by the Chairman's Sub-Committee, and His Majesty's Government earnestly hope that the Committee will be able to adopt the scheme at its present meeting. As regards the last part of the question, the right hon. Gentleman appears to be under a misapprehension. All the Governments represented on the Committee have approved the Committee's resolution to the effect that the Non-Intervention Agreement should be extended as from midnight 20th-21st February to cover the recruitment in, the transit through, or departure from their respective countries of persons of non-Spanish nationality proposing to proceed to Spain for the purpose of taking part in the present conflict, and this prohibition has been in force since that date.
§ Mr. AttleeHas the Noble Lord any information in regard to an additional 10,000 troops from Italy having been landed in the last few days?
§ Viscount CranborneNo, Sir. The right hon. Gentleman will be very unwise if he believes all that he sees in the newspapers.
§ Mr. AttleeIs there not a danger from this delay in making non-intervention effective that it will be anticipated, as previously in the case of munitions?
§ Viscount CranborneWhat I have explained is that in our opinion it has been made effective.
§ Mr. BellengerCan the Noble Lord say whether the objection of Germany to contributing to the cost of this supervisory arrangement has been now overcome?
§ Viscount CranbornePerhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.