§ 17. Sir A. Knoxasked the Prime Minister whether he will ascertain from the Non-intervention Committee whether the committee is aware of the large quantities of munitions entering the territory occupied by the Barcelona Government daily across the French frontier; and whether he will make a statement on the matter?
§ Mr. ButlerI would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, as the land 1511 observation scheme is at present in suspense, the Non-intervention Committee are not in a position to acquire information of this nature.
§ Sir A. KnoxSurely this open transport of munitions across the French frontier should be brought to the notice of the French Government, who initiated the whole scheme of non-intervention? Is it not true to say that without this transport of munitions General Franco would have won the war?
19. Mr. Aclandasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that the re-imposition of control over the land frontiers of Spain will not precede by more than a few days the actual withdrawal of troops from Spain and will not precede the imposition of some scheme which will afford a reasonably sure guarantee that no foreign aircraft can reach either side in Spain from abroad?
§ 23. Sir Archibald Sinclairasked the Prime Minister whether he will assure the House that he will not concede to the Italian Government, either as a condition of their acceptance of His Majesty's Government's formula for the evacuation of foreign combatants from Spain or as a condition precedent to the despatch of the international commissions to Spain, as contemplated in His Majesty's Government's plan for evacuation, that control should be re-imposed at the frontiers of Spain; whether any communications have passed between His Majesty's Government and the French Government on this subject; and what is the attitude of the French Government to it?
33. Duchess of Athollasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Spanish insurgents control half the Franco-Spanish frontier and that the international control of the Portuguese land frontier was withdrawn last summer, he will give an assurance that he will not consent to the re-imposition of international control on the French frontier before the withdrawal of foreigners has at least commenced?
§ Mr. ButlerThese are matters which are at present under the consideration of the Non-intervention Committee. They are for the Committee as a whole to decide, and I am not at liberty to make any statement on the subject at present.
§ Sir A. SinclairMay I ask for an answer to the first part of my question? Was the closing of the French frontier a condition of the acceptance by the Italian Government of the British formula for the evacuation of foreign combatants in Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerI should like to see that question on the Paper.
§ Sir A. SinclairI must press for an answer now. The question was addressed to the Prime Minister, and it is on the Paper. It is a question of whether it was a condition of the acceptance of the formula for the evacuation of foreign combatants from Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerThe right hon. Gentleman's point, I think, is that he was asking the Prime Minister
whether he will assure the House that he will not concede to the Italian Government, either as a condition of their acceptance";
§ Sir A. SinclairObviously if it is a condition of acceptance, it must be a condition. I ask the Prime Minister to answer quite definitely, because if this were a condition of the acceptance the House ought to have been informed when it was informed of the acceptance.
§ Mr. ButlerIf we can see the question on the Paper we can give an answer.
Mr. AclandIs it not a fact that answers in relation to matters coming before the Non-intervention Committee were given in this House last week, and why are they withheld this week by the formula; and, secondly, is it not a fact that the Non-intervention Committee of 1937 has already agreed, I believe, on 4th November—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member's question is too long.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Harvey.
20. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Prime Minister what decision has been taken by His Majesty's Government with regard to assisting the humanitarian work on behalf of child refugees on both sides in Spain, which is being undertaken by the international commission under the chairmanship of Judge Michael Hansson, 1513 the president of the Nansen office at Geneva; and what promises of assistance have been given by other Governments?
§ Mr. ButlerThe attention of His Majesty's Government was drawn last autumn to the terrible conditions existing in the refugee camps in Catalonia and in other parts of Spain, where many children were on the verge of starvation, and they were invited to contribute to a scheme intended to result in the provision of one hot meal a day for those children on both sides who were in most urgent need. His Majesty's Government accordingly informed Judge Hansson, the President of the organisation to which the hon. Member refers, that they would be prepared to make a contribution thereto as soon as they were satisfied that sufficient funds were forthcoming from elsewhere to ensure its genuinely international character. I am informed that conditional promises of assistance have been received to date from six Governments, and that contributions from several others are expected.
Mr. HarveyAre the Government aware that the Belgian Government have promised 250,000 francs and the South African Government £2,000, and in view of the urgency of the need will His Majesty's Government consider the possibility of making their grant available even if the total amount contemplated cannot be obtained?
§ Mr. ButlerThe Government's contribution was conditional on other Governments subscribing a certain amount, but naturally, in view of the seriousness of the situation, I shall give the hon. Member's point every consideration.
§ 24. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Italian Foreign Minister has written an article in "Wille und Macht," the paper of the Hitler youth movement, in which he says that Italian and German volunteers are fighting side by side in Spain, and serving with determination the cause to which these two nations have dedicated themselves; and whether he will bring this reaffirmation on the part of Italy to continue to participate in the Spanish struggle before the Non-intervention Committee?
§ Mr. ButlerI have seen a reference in the Press to the article to which the hon. Member refers, but whatever may be our 1514 interpretation of it, I do not feel that any useful purpose would be served by the action suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. StraussIn view of this recent reaffirmation of the intention to continue intervention in Spain, do the Government think it is any use continuing negotiations on this question?
§ Mr. ButlerI should like to see the article in toto before saying anything further.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsDid the hon. Gentleman not see the "Times" correspondent's report, and is he prepared to deny the report of every British correspondent abroad?
§ Mr. BennMay I ask the Prime Minister whether, in the Italian negotiations, he takes any account of the continued active Italian intervention in Spain?
§ Colonel WedgwoodHave I not the right to put a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe cannot have an endless flow of supplementary questions.
§ 31. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Prime Minister whether the formula to which the Italians have agreed for the withdrawal of foreigners from Spain includes the provision that such withdrawal shall be in proportion to the numbers engaged on both sides?
§ Mr. ButlerThis is a question which is under the discussion of the Non-intervention Committee, and I am not therefore able to make a statement. I would, however, point out that the basis of the proposals put forward in the Committee's resolution of 4th November was that the withdrawal of foreign volunteers should be in proportion to the numbers engaged on either side.
§ Mr. RobertsDid the formula to which the Italians agreed include proportionate withdrawal?
§ Mr. ButlerThe question put by the hon. Gentleman referred to the terms of the proposal, and they did include the proposal for the withdrawal of foreign volunteers in proportion to the numbers engaged on either side.
§ Mr. RobertsAm I to understand that the Italians have agreed to this?
§ Colonel WedgwoodIs not the Prime Minister prepared to do anything to save democracy in Spain?
§ 51. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that he will not again make anyone who has been closely associated with General Franco's cause a member of His Majesty's Government?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not accept the hon. Member's description as applicable to any member of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. StraussIs the Prime Minister aware that, in making a former supporter of General Franco a member of his Government, he has inevitably raised doubts at home and abroad as to his impartiality?
§ Brigadier-General Sir Henry CroftWill the Prime Minister also give an assurance that no one who has been speaking against this country in Spain will receive any chance of recognition?