§ 2. Captain Ramsayasked the Prime Minister whether the Valencia Government have given any reason for their refusal to accept the appointment of Field-Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode as arbitrator in the matter of the exchange of prisoners?
§ Mr. G. StraussOn a point of Order. Is it in order to put down a question referring to the "Valencia Government"? Should it not refer to the Spanish Republican Government?
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think that is a point of Order.
§ Miss WilkinsonWould it be in order to refer to His Majesty's Government as the "London Government" or the "Birmingham Government"?
§ Mr. ButlerThe Spanish Government have informed His Majesty's Government that, whereas they have the highest re- 1182 spect for Field-Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, they desire that there should be more than one arbitrator, and that the arbitrators should be of different nationalities.
§ Captain RamsayIn view of the fact that a good many lives may be concerned, will my hon. Friend continue to press this subject on the attention of the Red Government at Barcelona?
§ Mr. ButlerWe have told the Spanish Government of the importance which we attach to an early reply.
§ 5. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister how many Italian troops and how much Italian war material reached the insurgent forces in Spain during the three months prior to the signing of the Anglo-Italian Agreement?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Government have not sufficiently detailed and reliable information to enable them to make themselves responsible for a statement on this subject.
§ Mr. StraussIs any serious investigation made into, the arrival of foreign troops in Franco's Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerI have said we have not sufficiently reliable information to enable us to make a statement.
§ Mr. StraussIs it not extremely important that such investigation should be made and that we should ascertain the facts?
§ Captain RamsayWould not such an investigation reveal the fact that there are at least two Russians or French to one of any other nation?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs it not the case that the proposal was made by Senor del Vayo that an impartial international commission should be sent by the League of Nations, to inquire how many there are on either side?
§ Mr. ButlerWe desire that success should attend the deliberations of the Non-Intervention Committee, and the result of that would be that international commissions would visit Spain to count the number on either side.
§ 13. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the reference in the Anglo-Italian Agreement to the 1183 necessity of securing a settlement of the Spanish question and the recent declaration of Signor Mussolini that the Spanish civil war must result in the complete victory of the Burgos Government, the Italian Government have made representations to His Majesty's Government to that effect?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)No, Sir.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of that reply may the House take it that His Majesty's Government are not in any way committed to accepting the view of Signor Mussolini with regard to this matter?
§ 14. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have received any report of the bombing of the steamship "Penthames," in Valencia Harbour, on Sunday morning, when several members of the crew were injured?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. I have received a preliminary report, from which I understand that the "Penthames" was seriously damaged on 22nd May during an air raid on the port of Valencia, and I regret to state that three of the crew were injured. We are making further inquiries.
§ 15. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister how many British ships bound for Spanish Government ports have been detained and searched for war material; how many were found to be carrying war material; on what information and authority do the Non-Intervention Committee act in making these searches; whether demurrage and other expenses are refunded to the shipowners where no war material is found; and, if so, who pays?
§ Mr. ButlerFive British ships have been detained and searched under the powers conferred by the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Munitions to Spain) Act, 1936. Of these ships four have not been found to be carrying any war material prohibited under that Act, and one is at present being examined at Gibraltar. Such searches are not carried out by the Non-Intervention Committee, but by the British authorities who alone are entitled to detain and search British ships. As regards the last two parts of the question, no legal liability is ad- 1184 mitted, but where actual loss is shown to have been incurred the Board of Trade is prepared to consider whether some ex gratia payment should be made. The charges would be to the Mercantile Marine Services Vote.
§ Mr. StraussIn view of the fact that no contraband has so far been found in these ships which have been detained and searched, will the machinery be examined by which these boats are earmarked for search, as it is plain that the information which has been given to His Majesty's Government up to now has been false?
§ Mr. ButlerI hope within a short time.
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennDoes the information on which the search is inaugurated come from General Franco's agents?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ButlerWe get our information from a variety of sources. I have answered a previous question on that subject.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill the Government consider publishing the sources of their information?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir.
§ 16. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister how many ships have been detained by the Non-Intervention Committee and searched for war material bound for ports under the control of the Spanish Government and the insurgent authorities, respectively?
§ Mr. ButlerThe Non-Intervention Committee as such has no power to detain and search ships, though the Non-Intervention Board has from time to time given to Governments of the participating countries, at their request, information regarding suspected breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement. I have just given the figures for British ships detained and searched, but I am not in a position to give any figures for ships flying the flag of other countries.
§ Mr. StraussHow many British ships going to insurgent territory have been detained and searched?
§ Mr. ButlerI think I have already given the hon. Member all the information that I have.
§ 17. Mr. Rileyasked the Prime Minister the approximate number of Italian combatants who have been withdrawn from Spain since the signing of the agreement between Great Britain and Italy?
§ Mr. ButlerI regret that I have no information to show whether any such withdrawal has taken place, or, if so, in what quantities.
§ Mr. ThorneIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that there are about 6,000 Italian soldiers who have been compulsorily withdrawn on account of wounds and injuries?
§ Mr. ButlerI have not got the exact information, but I know that there have been several Italian casualties withdrawn.