§ 5. Commander Marsdenasked the Prime Minister whether any protest was made to the Spanish Government concerning the bombing by their aircraft of His Majesty's ships "Kempenfelt" and "Boreas" while engaged on humanitarian work in rescuing seamen in distress on 6th March last?
§ Mr. ButlerAs my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty state 1 on 7th March, the bombing attack 2680 in question was made on the Spanish cruiser "Canarias," to which vessel the survivors of the "Balcares" were being transferred by His Majesty's ship "Kempenfelt" and His Majesty's ship "Boreas." In the circumstances His Majesty's Government do not hold the Spanish Government responsible for the damage done to His Majesty's ships.
§ 8. Mr. Cocksasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that prior to the closing of the Pyrenees frontier in June the British Government had drawn the attention of the French Government to the passage of munitions over that frontier, the Government has now drawn the attention of the Governments of Germany and Italy to the shipments reaching the Spanish insurgents from those countries?
§ Mr. ButlerThe German and Italian Governments are doubtless well aware of the importance which His Majesty's Government attach to the strict observance of the Non-Intervention Agreement by the participating Governments.
§ Mr. CocksDo I understand that although during the last two years these munitions have been sent to Spain, the Government have made no protest against this breach of the agreement?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot accept the statement of the hon. Gentleman as being strictly correct. There have, of course, been interchanges of views on the subject between the Governments concerned, and our view has been made clear. There have been no definite representations.
§ Mr. CocksWhy should the Government make their view clear to the French Government, and not to the Italian Government or the German Government?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot accept the position as it is stated in the original question. No doubt the French Government are aware of our views, as are the other Governments concerned.
Miss RathboneWould the Government consider addressing representations similar to those addressed by the Foreign Secretary to M. Bonnet on 5th June, saying that British public opinion would be greatly alienated if the passage of munitions over the frontier were not stopped?
§ Mr. ButlerI would first have to investigate the claims the hon. Member has made.
§ 12. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether any reply has been received from the Burgos authorities in reply to His Majesty's Government's communication concerning the bombing of British ships?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)A reply has been received, and is now under consideration.
§ 14. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether he has now considered the specific allegations by the Spanish Government that there have been numerous breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement since the signing of the Anglo-Italian Agreement, and with what result?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. The Spanish Government's Note has been carefully examined. Under the Non-Intervention Committee's rules of procedure, His Majesty's Government can only forward a complaint to the committee if they regard it as being founded on evidence of sufficient weight to afford a reasonable presumption that in fact some breach of the agreement has occurred. His Majesty's Government do not so regard the present complaints and they do not, therefore, feel justified in forwarding them to the committee.
§ Mr. StraussHave His Majesty's Government inquired from the Spanish Government what evidence they have to support the very specific allegations they have put forward?
§ Mr. ButlerI do not know what evidence the Spanish Government may have. We have done our best to investigate the allegations, and so far as we have investigated them we do not find them justified.
§ Brigadier-General Sir Henry CroftIs it not a fact that there has been a constant stream of munitions also on the other frontier, and if representations are to be made to one side, ought they not to be made to both, equally?
§ Mr. ButlerI think that the stream to which my hon. and gallant Friend has referred does not at the moment take place.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerHave His Majesty's Government asked the Spanish Government what their evidence is; and, in considering the claims of the Spanish Government, have they taken into account the official statements of the Italian Government in the Italian Press?
§ Mr. ButlerAll we can do is to consider the Note to which the hon. Member refers, and we have found nothing on which to base a complaint to the Non-Intervention Committee.
§ Mr. AttleeThe hon. Member says that he can do no more than examine the Note, and he says that they have no evidence. But if they have not looked further for this evidence, how does he know that what is in the Note is not correct?
§ Mr. ButlerWe have examined all the information in our possession.
§ Mr. AttleeHave not the Government notoriously for the last year and a half known nothing about anything?
20. Miss Rathboneasked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make in regard to the bombing of the British ship "Stanland," in Valencia harbour, on Tuesday last; and what action he is taking with regard to it?
§ Mr. ButlerAccording to a report received from His Majesty's Consul at Valencia, the steamship "Stanland" received slight damage, due to scorching by benzine burning on the quay, in a raid on Valencia on 19th July.
21. Miss Rathboneasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fresh attack on a British ship last week, His Majesty's Government still adhere, so far as they can find practical means of carrying it out, to the policy laid down in the notes sent to the Burgos authorities in February by the then Foreign Secretary, in which His Majesty's Government reserved to themselves the right without further notice to take such retaliatory action in the event of the recurrence of such attack as may be required or appropriate in the particular case?
§ Mr. ButlerMy Noble Friend cannot accept the hon. Lady's statement that the British ship most recently involved in a raid on the harbour of Valencia last week was the subject of a deliberate attack. 2683 The representations referred to in the second part of the question were made in connection with an attack by aircraft on a British ship on the high seas early in February. His Majesty's Government's attitude towards such cases remains unchanged.
Miss RathboneHave not His Majesty's Government repudiated the attacks on British ships and said that they would destroy the friendly relations with the Burgos authorities? Would not these warnings be more effective if they were not accompanied by attacks on British ships engaged in lawful trade with Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerI think the hon. Lady must differentiate between ships on the high seas, about which the representations in early February were made by the late Foreign Secretary, and ships in port.
§ 25. Mr. Cocksasked the Prime Minister whether any report has been given by Sir Robert Hodgson concerning the extent of German and Italian penetration of nationalist Spain, both in the industrial and administrative spheres; and whether he can give the House any information on the subject?
§ Mr. ButlerAdvantage has been taken of Sir R. Hodgson's presence in this country to discuss with him such matters as those to which the hon. Member refers, but these conversations must of necessity be confidential.
§ Mr. CocksDoes this information show that this penetration is extensive and is damaging to British interests?
§ Mr. ButlerI am afraid that I cannot give the hon. Gentleman a further answer to that which I have given him.
§ Mr. ButlerThe hon. Member can always draw his own conclusions, and I can give my answers.
§ 28. Mr. Palingasked the Prime Minister whether he has requested or received any assurance from the French Government that they are entirely satisfied with the operation of the control on the Spanish-Portuguese frontier in connection 2684 with the Non-Intervention Agreement; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to ascertain the views of the French Government on this matter?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. It is for the French Government to take the initiative in this matter, if they wish to do so.
§ Mr. PalingIs it possible for the British Government to take as much initiative in closing the Spanish-Portuguese frontier as they have done in closing the French-Pyrenees frontier?
§ Mr. ButlerAll our reports go to show that the Portuguese frontier is, in fact, closed.
§ 29. Mr. Palingasked the Prime Minister the number of protests sent by His Majesty's Government since the outbreak of hostilities in Spain to the insurgent Government before and since the Nyon Agreement respecting the loss of British lives and property caused by the action of rebel submarines and aircraft; the total number of British lives lost to date through such action; and the total sums claimed and paid as compensation in respect of such losses?
§ Mr. ButlerSince the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on 20th June, there have been protests in respect of three further incidents, in one of which I regret to state that two British subjects were killed. All protests in question were made since the Nyon arrangements. I made a statement on the subject of claims for compensation in the Debate on the Adjournment on 12th May.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the hon. Gentleman say whether any payments whatever in respect of claims for compensation have been received yet from the insurgent Government?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. The reason I described in the Debate on the Adjournment on 12th May.
§ 30. Mr. Palingasked the Prime Minister the sums actually paid to date by the Governments participating in the Non-Intervention Agreement; and the sums, if any, still unpaid by the contracting parties?
§ Mr. ButlerI am not in possession of the precise details asked for by the hon. 2685 Member, but the French, German, Italian and British Governments have contributed their share at the highest rate which falls to be paid by any individual Government. On the adoption of the observation plan in March last year, arrangements were made by which the total contributions to be paid by the Government parties to the Non-Intervention Agreement in a full year would amount to the sum of £834,000. I understand that by reason of economical administration it has so far been possible to operate the observation plan at a lower cost than was originally intended.
§ 38. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will propose to the Non-Intervention Committee that control over aerodromes in Spain should be established by the placing of neutral commissions of observers in such aerodromes?
§ Mr. ButlerThe possibility of establishing an air observation scheme has already been exhaustively examined by the Non-Intervention Committee, which has decided that the matter can best be dealt with in the manner set out in Part 6, Section 5, of the Committee's plan of 5th July. As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, that section of the plan provides for the appointment of two air staff officers to examine the practicability of establishing an effective system of observation over air traffic entering Spain over the land and sea frontiers.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn view of the fact that that means further study of a subject which it was agreed to study in July of last year, is it not now possible for the Government to propose that there should be observers put in aerodromes?
§ Mr. ButlerI think the reason why this subject has been so long being studied is that it is extremely difficult and complicated to find a satisfactory solution. I do not think the hon. Member's suggestion would be a satisfactory solution.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs it not plain that putting observers into aerodromes is the easiest way of control?
§ Mr. ButlerI am informed that the committee considered the hon. Member's suggestion and rejected it.