HC Deb 21 November 1938 vol 341 cc1319-22
9. Mr. Boothby

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give the House an assurance that belligerent rights will not be granted to General Franco until all foreign troops have been withdrawn from Spain?

21. Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government still adhere to the provisions of the plan for the evacuation of foreign troops from Spain unanimously agreed to by the Non-Intervention Committee on 5th July, 1938, and in particular to the conditions there laid down for the grant of belligerent rights to the contending parties?

Mr. Butler

The conditions under which belligerent rights will be granted to both parties in Spain remain as defined in the proposed resolution adopted by the Non-Intervention Committee on 5th July last. As long as these proposals continue to represent the unanimous programme of the Commiteee, His Majesty's Government, as a member of that Committee, adhere to them.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Are we to understand from the answer of the Minister that His Majesty's Government have no intention of proposing any modification of the terms?

Mr. Butler

I have said that these proposals do now represent the unanimous programme of the Committee. I am not able to go further than that.

Sir Percy Harris

If this ceases to be the unanimous programme of the Committee, do the Government intend to change their policy?

Mr. Butler

The Government will consider the position as it then arises.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

But are the Government trying to get any modification? That is what we want to know. Are they trying to influence the Committee to alter this unanimous view which is held at the present time?

Mr. Butler

The right hon. Gentleman must wait for a meeting of the Committee.

Mr. Boothby

Are the Government making the unanimity of the Committee a condition of adhering to the terms?

Mr. Butler

I cannot go any further than the answer which I have already given twice. As long as these proposals represent the unanimous programme of the Committee, we will adhere to it.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Does the resolution referred to in the answer, take account of the removal of foreign munitions of war from Spain as well as the removal of foreign troops?

Mr. Butler

That is a much wider question than the question on the Paper.

25. Mr. Davidson

asked the Prime Minister the total number of reports received from His Majesty's representatives in Spain since the beginning of September, 1938?

Mr. Butler

His Majesty's representatives in all foreign countries continually report to my Noble Friend on all matters likely to be of interest to His Majesty's Government, but I cannot give the statistics required.

Mr. Davidson

Have the recent reports of His Majesty's representatives indicated a general settlement of the Spanish dispute, which was the basis of the recent Italo-British Agreement?

Mr. Butler

I cannot really reveal in a general way the many reports that we get from our representatives.

Mr. Davidson

Have those reports indicated a general settlement of the Spanish dispute?

Mr. Butler

I have given the hon. Gentleman my answer to that question.

Miss Rathbone

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the number and location of His Majesty's Government's representatives in Spain is adequate, seeing that they have only Consular representatives in a few places and no Naval representatives at the Embassy in Valencia or in Barcelona? May I have an answer to that question?

Mr. Speaker

There are 85 questions on the Paper.

29. Mr. A. Jenkins

asked the Prime Minister what instructions were given to Mr. Hemming on the occasion of his recent visit to General Franco; and what was the nature of his report?

Mr. Butler

As I explained on 5th October in reply to the hon. Member for North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts), the object of Mr. Hemming's mission was to explain any points of detail and clear up any misconceptions which may have arisen in connection with the Committee's plan and to investigate the exact intentions of the authorities regarding its execution. Mr. Hemming's report was only received in the Foreign Office late on Saturday and is now being studied.

Miss Rathbone

Seeing that the plan was first issued on 5th July, is not the delay somewhat long?

Mr. Jenkins

When will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement with regard to that report?

Mr. Butler

I fully appreciate the anxiety of the hon. Member, and indeed of the House, to have further news on this point. At the moment I cannot say more, but if the hon. Member will put a further question down, I will do my best to answer it.

30. Mr. Jenkins

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will invite the French Government to join with them in proposing to Signor Mussolini collective representations by the three Governments to General Franco to induce him to put into force the plan for the evacuation of foreign troops from Spain unanimously agreed to by the Non-Intervention Committee on 5th July, 1938?

Mr. Butler

My Noble Friend is at present considering Mr. Hemming's report and is not yet in a position to come to any decision on future policy.

32. Captain Plugge

asked the Prime Minister whether any specific request has been received from General Franco for the grant of belligerent rights; and, if so, in what form it was conveyed to the British Government?

Mr. Butler

As long ago as 8th June, 1937, a communication was received by His Majesty's Embassy at Hendaye from General Franco's Administration, stating the grounds on which General Franco claimed to be accorded belligerent rights.