§ 2. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the cargo steamers, the "Auguste Cords" and the "Consul Cords," filled with arms and munitions loaded at 2872 Bremen and bound for Spain, now in the port of Antwerp, in view of the appeal of the Spanish Government for action in the matter?
§ Mr. EdenA note regarding these two vessels was received from the Spanish Ambassador on 17th March. In view of the fact that they were reported to be in Antwerp it was considered that the matter would best have been brought to the attention of the Belgian Government, within whose competence the matter appeared to lie. A reply in this sense has been returned to the Spanish Ambassador.
§ Mr. ManderHas the Foreign Office any information on the subject of what happened?
§ 11. Mr. Arthur Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the number of British nationals captured by General Franco's forces and the treatment accorded to them?
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir, His Majesty's Government are, however, making inquiries as to the treatment accorded by both contending parties to foreign prisoners.
§ Mr. HendersonHas the question of the release of foreign prisoners of war been considered by the Non-Intervention Committee?
§ 12. Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the note received from the Spanish Government with reference to the presence of four Italian divisions in Spain?
§ Mr. EdenI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to questions on this subject on Monday last, to which I am, at present, unable to add anything.
§ Miss WilkinsonHas the right hon. Gentleman any information that Italy is proposing to send fresh troops to cover those defeated?
§ 15. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has 2873 any statement to make with reference to the recent transport of Italian and Abyssinian troops to Spain and, in particular, the movements of the rebel vessel "Domine" and the Italian vessel "Cesare" in this connection?
§ Mr. EdenAs regards the movements of the steamship "Domine," my information is that this vessel left Spanish Morocco early in February with several hundred North African pilgrims on board for the port of Jedda, and that, carrying the pilgrims on their return journey, she called at Port Said and cleared that port on 17th March for Benghazi and Ceuta. I have no information regarding the movements of the steamship "Cesare."
§ Mr. ManderThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the general question at the beginning of my question. Can he say whether he is satisfied that there has been no movement of Italian or Abyssinian troops to Spain in the last few weeks?
§ Mr. EdenThere is another question on the Paper on that subject, but I may say that we have received within the last few days the most specific assurances from the Italian Government.
§ Mr. ManderCan we accept those assurances?
§ 20. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, the landing of members of the Italian army and air force with arms and munitions in Spain for the purpose of making war on the constitutional Government of the country before 20th February, 1937, did, or did not, constitute a violation of the Non-Intervention Agreement, signed by Italy on 28th August, 1936, of the Briand-Kellogg pact for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy, and of the Covenant of the League of Nations?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWould not the position of the Government have been stronger if, in the investigations on this matter, they had always recognised the plain fact of violation of treaties and had protested against it?
§ 21. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made by the Non-Intervention Committee for the appointment of officials to the Non-Intervention Board; and what is their number and their nationality?
§ Mr. EdenIn accordance with the decision taken by the Non-Intervention Committee on 8th March, the International Board is to consist of a chairman and eight members. By unanimous vote of the Non-Intervention Committee, Vice-Admiral Van Dulm has been appointed chairman, and the eight members have been nonimated to represent the Governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Poland and the Union of Soviet. Socialist Republics.
§ 22. Mr. Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of the Non-Intervention Committee has been called to the capture of a document, purported to be signed by Signor Mussolini, concerning Italian troops in the Guadalajara sector of the Spanish front; and, if so, whether any protest has been made or is being considered to this further evidence of the violation of the Non-Intervention Agreement?
§ Mr. EdenI understand that the Non-Intervention Committee have no information regarding the capture of such a document.
§ 23. Mr. Dobbieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his inquiry into the arrival in Spain of Italian troops is yet completed; and, if so, with what results?
§ Mr. EdenI have no further information to give the House except that subsequent inquiries have established the fact that the case to which I referred in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks) on Wednesday last did not constitute a breach of the Non-Intervention Agreement.
§ Miss WilkinsonHave we yet got any agreement or understanding from the Foreign Secretary that he has ever heard that there are any Italian troops in Spain? He has never said so yet.
§ Miss WilkinsonOn a point of Order. I have listened very carefully to every word of the Foreign Secretary. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SpeakerThere does not appear to be anything more to ask.
§ Mr. ManderHas the right hon. Gentleman any statement to make with reference to the statement of Signor Grandi that these troops will not leave Spain until they have won the war?
§ 24. Mr. Dobbieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British diplomatic and consular officials now in Spanish territory; and whether they have sent, or have been requested to send, any information as to the landing of Italian troops since 20th February, 1937?
§ Mr. EdenThere are British diplomatic and consular officers at Valencia, and British consular representatives at 26 other towns in Spain. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot undertake to make public in existing circumstances the nature of all communications which may pass between me and His Majesty's representatives.
§ Lieut. - Commander Fletcher(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make regarding the instructions of the Italian Government to their representative on the Non-Intervention Committee not to discuss the question of evacuation from Spain of non-Spanish nationals participating in hostilities there?
§ Mr. EdenI am not at present in a position to add anything to the terms of the communiqué issued after the close of yesterday's sitting of the Chairman's Sub-Committee of the Non-Intervention Committee. The situation is under consideration by His Majesty's Government. In the meantime the remaining difficulties in connection with the commencement of the operation of the observation scheme have I understand now been resolved.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not the case that the Italian Ambassador stated that no Italian troops would be removed from Spain until the conclusion of hostilities there?