§ 76. Mr. Gallacherasked the Prime Minisister whether he has received any intimation from the Italian Government as to the approximate date when it is proposed to remove the Italian Army units from Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Ambassador at Rome was informed on 9th April by Count Ciano that the Italian troops would be withdrawn as soon as the victory parade had taken place at Madrid.
§ Mr. GallacherIs there any guarantee that they will not be withdrawn and then returned as was the case in Libya?
§ Mr. ButlerWe have just been assured that they will be withdrawn after the parade takes place.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsDoes the right hon. Gentleman know the date fixed for the parade?
§ Mr. ButlerI have seen reports that the parade is to be on 15th May.
§ Sir A. SinclairDo the Government acquiesce in this statement by the Italians that they are not going to withdraw the troops until 15th May? Is that going to be regarded as a fulfilment of the undertaking given in the Anglo-Italian Agreement that the Italian troops were to be withdrawn forthwith the moment the civil war was over in Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerI was asked whether we had received any information from the Italian Government and I have given the House the information which we have had from them.
§ Mr. ManderDo the Government realise now the criminal folly of this Spanish policy?
§ 78. Mr. Sandysasked the Prime Minister how many Italian and German troops are at present in Spain; whether any increases have been made recently; and whether he has any information regarding the construction of new aerodromes or fortifications near the Pyrenees frontier or in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar?
§ Mr. ButlerAs regards the first and second parts of the question, the position is still as stated in the reply given on 5th April to the hon. Member for North Cumberland (Mr. W. Roberts). This also applies to Germans serving in Spain. As regards the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government have no confirmation of the construction of such aerodromes or fortifications.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerHave there been any recent increases in the number of Germans and Italians in Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerNot according to our information.
§ Mr. BoothbyWill my right hon. Friend cause special inquiry to be made into this very important question of the fortifications of Gibraltar?
§ Mr. SandysAre we to understand from the reply of my right hon. Friend that he has received reports to this effect but that they are not fully confirmed?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. Special inquiries were made in relation to the last part of the question on the Paper, and I have given the House the latest information in our possession.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill His Majesty's Government call for reports from the 56 consular officers that we have in different parts of Spain as to whether there have been new arrivals or not?
§ Mr. ButlerThe 56 consular officers are so efficient that they send us reports without being asked.