HC Deb 28 October 1937 vol 328 cc232-3
26. Captain Arthur Evans

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the resignation of Canon Craven from the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief; whether he is in a position to make any statement with regard to the petition which has been signed by some 600 parents in Bilbao asking for the repatriation of their children at the earliest possible moment; whether the authenticity of the parents' request has been guaranteed by the Apostolic delegate and accepted by the British Embassy at Hendaye and the British Acting Vice-Consul in Bilbao; and whether, in the circumstances, he will request the National Joint Committee to make arrangements for the early return of the children to their parents?

38. Mr. Crowder

asked the Home Secretary the position at the present time with regard to the repatriation of the Basque children now in this country; the number of requests which have been made by parents for their return; and the response which has been made to such requests?

Sir S. Hoare

The primary responsibility for the arrangements for the repatriation of these children rests with the Basque Children's Committee, but the Home Office has, of course, kept in touch with the situation. I am aware that Canon Craven has resigned from the Committee, and as regards the remaining parts of the question, I am informed that the position is as follows:

The Committee has received applications from various sources for the return of about 950 children, of whom a few have already been repatriated. The lists have been submitted by the Committee to Sir Holman Gregory, K.C., Mr. Theodore Mathew, K.C., and Mr. Richard Ludlow, who were asked by the Committee to investigate and advise upon the applications which, with the exception of a few submitted through other sources, were brought to this country by a representative of the Apostolic delegate in Bilbao. They were not investigated by the British Embassy in Hendaye or the British Acting Vice-Consul in Bilbao. Sir Holman Gregory's report has now been submitted to the Committee who are holding a meeting to—day to consider what action should be taken. Until their decision is made known, I am not able to make any further statement in the matter.

Duchess of Atholl

Is it not the case that a number of the applications brought to England by the Apostolic delegate's representative were presented to a political organisation as a result of an advertisement; and is my right hon. Friend aware that the committee some weeks ago expressed their readiness to accept all applications which were vouched for by the Apostolic delegate?

Sir S. Hoare

I am not aware of any of those statements, but they hardly seem to concern the Home Office.