§ 4. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister, whether he will consider the advisability of publishing as a White Paper the speech made by Mr. Jordan, the representative of New Zealand, at the recent discussion at the League Council at Geneva on the situation in Spain?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)No, Sir; the proceedings of the League Council will be published in due course in the League of Nation's Official Journal, a copy of which will be available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the fact that the speech of the New Zealand representative on the Council sets forth an Imperial point of view quite different from that of the British Government would it not be desirable that we should have an opportunity of giving it close study?
§ Mr. ButlerNo doubt an opportunity for close study will be offered when the proceedings of the League Council are published.
§ Mr. Arthur HendersonMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will carefully read the speech?
§ 5. Mr. Wedgwood Bennasked the Prime Minister on what statutory authority Lord Plymouth has undertaken that His Majesty's Government will contribute funds for the repatriation of Italian troops at present in Spain; and whether it is proposed that an Estimate shall be laid before Parliament before any final decision is made in this matter?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)As my hon. Friend explained on 1st June in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the English Universities (Mr. Harvey), it is proposed that each Government should pay for the repatriation of its own nationals. As regards the expenses to be incurred in Spain by the International Board, the contribution of His Majesty's Government will constitute a share of the total cost of withdrawing all foreign combatants, irrespective of nationality, from the theatre of war to Spanish ports. The payments to be made by His Majesty's Government under both these headings appear to be an appropriate charge to the vote for the Diplomatic and Consular Services. If the scheme proceeds, a Supplementary Estimate will be laid before Parliament in due course.
§ Mr. BennThen it does mean that we have to contribute a considerable sum,£200,000, towards the cost of evacuating the Italians from the theatre of war?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know why the right hon. Gentleman mentions the Italians only. I specifically said that it is the cost of withdrawing all the foreign nationals.
§ Mr. BennIs not the Prime Minister carrying his policy of appeasement rather far when he denies that there are Italians in Spain?
§ The Prime MinisterAny effort that I am making in the direction of appeasement the right hon. Gentleman is doing his best to subvert.
§ Mr. WiseIs it not apparent that the Opposition do riot want volunteers to be withdrawn from Spain?
§ Mr. ShinwellOught not the Italians to be repatriated by the Italian Government at their own expense?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps the hon. Member did not hear what I said. I said that it is proposed that each Government should pay for the repatriation of its own nationals.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not the case that so far no agreement has been reached?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ 6. Mr. Bennasked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the bombing of Granollers, a town in Spain, far from any military objective, with the consequent loss of many civilian lives; and whether the Government have now any plan for making its former protests effective?
§ 8. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the recent bombing of the open town of Granollers, in Spain?
§ The Prime MinisterThe British Agent at Burgos has expressed to General Franco's Administration the horror with which His Majesty's Government have learned of the loss of civilian lives resulting from the bombardment of Granollers and of other towns in Spanish Government territory. They have also approached the French Government and the Vatican urging them to take similar action in the interests of humanity.
§ Mr. BennIs it not possible to give instructions to the Navy to act in respect of these aircraft, on the Nyon model?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not quite see how the Navy can stop the bombardment of Granollers, which is an inland town in Spain.
§ Mr. A. HendersonHas the Prime Minister any evidence as to the nationality of the aeroplanes which are conducting these particular air raids?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
Miss RathboneWas not the bombing of Granollers Franco's reaction to the 2411 Foreign Secretary's description of similar horrors as inseparable from modern warfare?