§ 5 and 6. Mr. Arthur Hendersonasked the Prime Minister (1)whether, following the termination of hostilities in Spain, German troops and war material have been withdrawn from Spanish territories;
(2) whether the Italian Government are withdrawing their troops and war material from Spain, as undertaken by them under the provisions of the Anglo-Italian Agreement?
§ 11. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the war is over in Spain, he has any information as to the date when Italian and German troops will be withdrawn?
§ Mr. ButlerSo far as I am aware, the Italian and German Governments have not yet withdrawn their troops from Spain, and I have at present no indication how soon this withdrawal will take place.
§ Mr. HendersonIs it not the concern of His Majesty's Government, having regard to the fact that the Italian Government undertook in the Anglo-Italian Agreement to withdraw their troops and material as soon as the war was terminated? Is it not a fact that the war has been officially declared by General Franco to have ended?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir, the war is just over and His Majesty's Government propose to watch the situation.
§ Mr. HendersonHave the Government made any inquiries in Rome whether the Italian Government intend to carry out their undertaking?
§ Mr. ButlerI have said that we are fully aware of the assurances that have been given, and that the war is just over and we propose to watch the situation.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerHave the Government made any representations to the German Government, in view of Herr Hitler's avowal the other day that in spite of the Non-intervention Agreement he had allowed a great number of German troops in Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the Under-Secretary say whether His Majesty's Ambassador in Spain has been instructed to remind General Franco of his undertaking that Italian and German troops would be removed from Spain on the completion of the war?
§ Mr. ButlerI have no doubt that His Majesty's Ambassador, like His Majesty's Government, will watch the situation in the light of the declarations that have been made.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherHave any instructions been given to him?
§ Mr. ButlerIn view of the knowledge that we have of our Ambassador and his knowledge of the situation, special instructions are not necessary.
§ Mr. ManderHas not the position been accentuated by the fact that General Franco has joined the Berlin-Rome axis?
§ 10. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Prime Minister whether he has any information as to the number of Italian troops in Spain at present; and as to whether their number has increased or decreased recently?
§ Mr. ButlerI regret that I am unable to give any figures for the accuracy of which I cannot vouch, but we have had indications that certain replacements were sent to Spain while hostilities were still in progress.
§ Mr. RobertsCan the Under-Secretary say when these replacements arrived, and where?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot give the exact date. The information we have is that they took place while hostilities were in progress.
§ Sir Archibald SinclairWhen the Under-Secretary uses the word "replacements," does it not give the impression that certain troops were withdrawn?
§ Mr. ButlerWe have had information that there were many casualties.
§ 12. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Prime Minister whether the immunity from hostile action guaranteed to ships sent by the International Relief Commission by the new Spanish Government extends to ships returning from Spanish ports with political refugees?
§ Mr. ButlerThe International Commission were given an assurance on behalf of the Spanish Government that certain ships carrying relief supplies would not be molested on their way to the Republican ports for which they were bound. The Commission did not ask for an assurance to be given to these ships once their cargo was discharged.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAre we to understand that the immunity does not extend to these ships on the outward journey, whether they are carrying refugees or not?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir, that assurance was not asked for.
§ Mr. W. RobertsIs it a fact that British warships have been told not to go to Spanish ports in connection with the rescuing of refugees?
§ Mr. ButlerI have no knowledge of any such instruction.
Miss RathboneIs it not the case that General Franco was asked whether he would accept the evacuation of refugees, and, in view of his refusal, can His Majesty's Government do what they have done in previous wars and extend some humane help to those refugees who are in danger of their lives?