HC Deb 01 November 1937 vol 328 cc513-6
8. Colonel Wedgwood

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give the House as to a time limit for the Debates on the Non-Intervention Committee before the Spanish Government is allowed to acquire weapons as easily as the Nationalists?

Mr. Eden

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would be good enough to await my speech in this afternoon's Debate.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Has any differentiation been made by the Non-Intervention Committee with regard to facilities for either the Government or the Nationalists to acquire arms?

Colonel Wedgwood: Is

the right hon. Gentleman aware that the insurgents can get arms by sea, and that the only possibility of the Government getting arms is over the land frontier?

16. Mr. Graham White

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to make a fuller statement with regard to the steamship "Dover Abbey"?

Mr. Eden

I understand that orders have been given to release this ship, and it is hoped that she will sail in the course of the next few days.

Mr. White

Have the captain and crew been able to communicate with their relatives?

Mr. Eden

I should hope so from this answer.

20. Mr. A. V. Alexander

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the prize court set up at Ferrol by the Spanish insurgents has declared the steamship "Stanwold" and her cargo confiscated, although it was recently announced that this ship was to be released; whether His Majesty's Government recognise this prize court; and what steps they propose to take to secure the release of this vessel, having regard to the fact that no blockade or right of capture has been hitherto admitted by the Government?

Mr. Eden

The release of this vessel has now been agreed, and I understand that she has already sailed. His Majesty's Government do not, of course, recognise any Prize Court purported to have been set up by the insurgent authorities.

Mr. Alexander

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this long delay of about six weeks has occurred owing to the setting up of the prize court, and in view of the present situation can he say what steps will now be taken to deal with the claim for damages? Will the Government take that in hand?

Mr. Eden

As I say, I understand that the vessel has been released. If there is a question of damages, the claim will have to be considered.

Mr. Alexander

Are we taking advantage of the opportunity to inform the Franco authorities that we do not recognise the validity of their prize court?

Mr. Eden

The position is perfectly well known, and if it is not, my answer will make it so.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Is it not a fact that these ships enter Spanish territorial waters at their own risk?

23. Mr. Thurtle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the ceremony which took place in Rome on 29th October when Signor Mussolini presented a large number of medals to the relatives of Italian soldiers who had lost their lives fighting on the side of General Franco in Spain; and whether he will direct the attention of the Non-Intervention Committee to this official approval of intervention on the part of one of the signatories of the Non-Intervention Agreement?

Mr. Eden

I have seen Press reports of the ceremony to which the hon. Member refers. It is no doubt true that this implies approval of intervention, but in view of the impossibility of establishing the date of the arrival of these Italian nationals in relation to the date of the undertaking not to permit foreign nationals to go to Spain, no useful purpose would be served by the course which the hon. Member suggests.

Mr. Thurtle

Does not the Foreign Secretary think that any useful purpose would be served by drawing the attention of the Italian Government to the fact that we do see that they are continually allowing breaches of these agreements to take place?

Mr. Attlee (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make regarding the bombing and sinking of the British steamer "Jean Weems"?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir. My information is that this steamer was attacked near Cape Sebastian on the morning of 30th October by an aeroplane, that the captain and crew with the non-intervention observer on board reached the shore without loss of life and were expected to arrive at Barcelona this morning. I have -also seen a report in the Press to the effect that prior notice was given by the aeroplane of its intention to attack the ship. His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye has already lodged a strong protest on my instructions with the insurgent authorities who have undertaken at once to make a most searching inquiry. His Majesty's Consul-General at Barcelona has also been instructed to submit a full report on the incident. In the meanwhile His Majesty's Government are getting into touch with the French Government as the conveners of the Nyon Conference, in order that consideration may be given to the possibility of making arrangements to strengthen the measures against air attack now in force under the Nyon Agreement in the event of a repetition of such an incident.

Mr. Bellenger

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the identity of this machine, and has his attention been drawn to a statement in the Press this morning that the person responsible for this attack is the son of he ruler of a friendly State? In view of the seriousness of that statement, will he take immediate steps to test the accuracy of it?

Mr. Eden

I must naturally await the report which I have called for by telegraph from our Consul-General at Barcelona.

Colonel Wedgwood

Are we right in supposing that this is a case of piracy typical of what we intended to stop?

Mr. Eden

That is exactly how I should regard it on my present information.

Mr. Thurtle

Is the right hon. Gentleman pressing for the report to be sent as soon as possible so that no time may be lost?

Mr. Eden

Yes, I took action yesterday.