§ 3. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether the assurances he has received from Signor Mussolini include, at the end of the war in Spain, a complete withdrawal from submarine bases, aerodromes and fortifications, of all Italian personnel; and whether any assurances on this general question of the withdrawal of Germans at the close of the war have been received from the German Government?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)I would refer the hon. Member to the exchange of notes forming part of the Anglo-Italian Agreement under which the Italian Government have undertaken that on the termination of the Spanish civil war all remaining Italian volunteers would forthwith leave Spanish territory. As regards Germans now in Spain, I was informed by Herr Hitler at Munich that he would be ready to withdraw the German volunteers whenever other countries were prepared to do the same.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not clear from what the Prime Minister said that the undertaking of the Italian Government does not, in fact, cover all the points which are mentioned in this question?
§ The Prime MinisterIt appears to me to do so.
Mr. Shin wellIf the Italian forces now in Spain are transferred to civilian work at the end of the civil war, will that be in compliance with the Anglo-Italian Agreement?
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennDoes the undertaking cover materiel as well as personnel?
§ The Prime MinisterThis was an undertaking in regard to Italian volunteers.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that the right hon. Gentleman is correct. I think they did say that Italian materiel will also be withdrawn.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherDoes the right hon. Gentleman regard the assurance of Herr Hitler as a formal and binding assurance?
§ The Prime MinisterI regard it as an expression of his intention at the time he spoke to me.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not clear from the reply of the Prime Minister that the assurance given by Herr Hitler is not in any way a binding undertaking?
§ 6. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister how many protests have been sent by His Majesty's Government to the Spanish insurgent authorities since the beginning of the war?
§ Mr. ButlerThe information requested is not readily available, and I fear that it would not now be possible to give the exact figures desired.
§ Mr. ManderWould it be several hundreds or thousands?
§ Mr. ButlerAccording to the imagination of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. StraussHave the results ever been satisfactory?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir.
§ Sir A. SinclairWhy leave it to the imagination of the hon. Member? Why not give us the facts?
§ 7. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether all British members of the International Brigade captured by General Franco have been released?
§ 21 and 22. Mr. Dobbieasked the Prime Minister (1) how many British prisoners are still in the concentration camp, San Pedro, at Burgos; and what steps are being taken to have them liberated;
(2) whether he has had any report from the British representative at Burgos as to the conditions prevailing in the concentration camp at San Pedro and the treatment of the prisoners there; whether any complaint has been made to the British representative by British nationals as to their treatment while in that camp; and whether any approach has been made to the Burgos authority on the question by the British representative?
§ Mr. ButlerI understand that 55 British members of the International Brigade are still held prisoner by General Franco's administration. Of these, 39 have already been transferred to San Sebastian for evacuation, and they will be released as soon as an equal number of Italian prisoners on the other side have been 1697 embarked. His Majesty's Consul at Valencia is taking all possible steps to expedite these arrangements. Of the remaining 16 prisoners, the British nationality of one or two of whom is doubtful, three are at Bilbao and 13 at Burgos. Negotiations for their exchange are proceeding as quickly as possible. A member of the staff of the British Agency has during the past year frequently visited the camp at Burgos, listened to any of the prisoners' complaints and reported them to the competent authorities, and he appears to have been satisfied that conditions were improved, and that the prisoners were on the whole well cared for.
§ Mr. StraussCan the Minister say why there has been such a delay in the release of these prisoners after the International Brigade has been withdrawn; and will he make inquiries as to the case of a leading member of the brigade, Mr. Frank Ryan, who has been condemned to 30 years' imprisonment?
§ Mr. ButlerThe delay is due to the difficulties of the exchange negotiations, and the last batch are waiting for an equal number of Italians to be embarked. I hope that that will take place very soon. As regards the other point, I will certainly continue my investigations into the case of Mr. Ryan which already has been communicated to me by another hon. Member.
Viscountess AstorIf the International Brigade who have been fighting in Spain are Communists, would they not be more at home in Russia?
§ 8. Mr. Dayasked the Prime Minister the date upon which the last meeting was held of the Non-intervention Committee and the number of meetings held by this committee to date; and whether any recent statements have been made on the reasons for withdrawing representatives from either the committee or the chairman's sub-committee?
§ Mr. ButlerThe last meeting of the committee took place on 5th July, 1938. The committee has met 29 times. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. ButlerIt has not recently met.
§ Mr. ButlerNo such decision has been taken.
§ Mr. ThorneAre any minutes taken of the meetings and a record kept of the number of people who attend?
§ Mr. ButlerI am sure there are records, but the proceedings of the committee are confidential.
§ 9. Mr. Hall-Caineasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the principal Paris newspapers, together with 10 special French delegates, four of whom are military officers of high rank, have accepted an invitation from the Burgos Administration to visit any part of Spain they desire with a view to disposing of un founded rumours as to the establishment of aerodromes, fortifications, and submarine bases under foreign control; and whether he can arrange for an independent British Commission to visit Spain with the same object?
§ Mr. ButlerThe invitation in question was to certain newspaper representatives. If a similar invitation were to be received here, it would not be a matter for His Majesty's Government unless their views were asked.
§ 10. Mr. G. Straussasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have now come to any decision on the recognition of General Franco?
§ 14. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether he will inform all Governments concerned, that in order to ensure that Spanish affairs are decided by the Spaniards themselves, His Majesty's Government will not be a party to any alteration of the régime in or constitution of Spain, until all foreign intervention has ceased in that country?
§ 25. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Prime Minister whether he can assure the House that His Majesty's Government will not accord recognition to the insurgent authorities as the legitimate Government of Spain until all foreign troops and armaments have been withdrawn from Spanish territory?
§ The Prime MinisterThis matter is still under consideration by His Majesty's Government, and I am unable, therefore, to make any further statement.
§ Mr. CocksWill the right hon. Gentleman realise the effect on British public opinion that will be produced if the Government recognise the Persians whilst Leonidas is still fighting in Thermopylae?
§ Mr. ManderIs it proposed to act jointly with the French Government in this matter and to make a simultaneous announcement?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member had better put that question down.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not clear that the wish of the Government for Spanish affairs to be settled by the Spanish people cannot be fulfilled as long as foreign intervention in Spain continues?
§ 12. Mr. Arthur Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether the refusal of His Majesty's Government to grant belligerent rights to General Franco on the ground that there was no civil war in Spain owing to intervention of foreign Powers on one side or the other will be followed in relation to the recognition of the Spanish insurgent authorities as the de jure or de facto Government of Spain?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. His Majesty's Government are bound by international agreement in the case of granting of belligerent rights, but no such agreement exists in connection with the granting of recognition.
§ Mr. HendersonIf His Majesty's Government were influenced by the fact that foreign Governments had intervened in the Spanish war when they refused to grant belligerent rights, is it not right that they should take that same fact into consideration when making up their minds whether they should afford recognition?
§ The Prime MinisterI have already said that the matter is now under consideration, and I could not therefore make any further statement.
§ Mr. HendersonI am not asking for any further statement, but whether His Majesty's Government will take that fact into consideration?
§ The Prime MinisterI call that asking for a further statement.
§ 13. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister why the decision to send His Majesty's ship "Devonshire" to Minorca was not communicated to the accredited representative of the Spanish Government in London?
§ Mr. ButlerIn the circumstances existing at that moment it was thought right to act without delay.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherWhile appreciating the reasons for the Government's wish to act without delay, may I ask whether it is not quite unprecedented for action of this sort to be taken without communicating with the accredited representative in this country of the Government concerned?
§ Mr. ButlerThe circumstances with which we were dealing were unprecedented.
Mr. Shin wellWas there any request by the inhabitants of Minorca for the despatch of a British vessel?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot add anything to the long statement on that subject which has already been made by the Prime Minister.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherWould it not have been perfectly possible, at any rate, to notify the Spanish Ambassador in London at the same time that action was taken, and would not that have been in accordance with courtesy and precedent?
§ Mr. ButlerI think it would have been possible. We wish to treat the Spanish Ambassador with every courtesy and distinction.
§ Sir A. SinclairDid the Government communicate with the representative of General Franco in this country before they took this step?
§ Mr. ButlerNot that I am aware of.
§ 15. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government still regards the Republican Government of Spain as the only legal Government existing in that country and that all major decisions affecting Spanish affairs will be communicated to that Government or, failing the possibility of establishing contact, with the Spanish Ambassador in London?
§ Mr. ButlerOur relations with the Spanish Government remain unchanged in the absence of any decision to the contrary, but His Majesty's Government must themselves decide what communications they make to foreign representatives.
§ Lieut.-commander FletcherCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that decisions of major importance affecting the Spanish Government will be communicated to the representative of that Government in London?
§ Mr. ButlerProvided that the hon. and gallant Member understands that the discretion must rest with us.
§ Mr. ThorneDo the various Ambassadors meet at any time for the purpose of exchanging notes on these matters?
§ Mr. ButlerI am sure that the Ambassadors parley together.
§ 16. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government are willing to take active steps to secure a settlement of the Spanish war on the basis that all foreign troops should be withdrawn, that there should be no reprisals, and that the Spanish people should have an opportunity of choosing their own form of Government?
29. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will now use their good offices to bring about a settlement in Spain by proposing to both sides an armistice, with an undertaking that there shall be no reprisals on either side, and that provision shall be made for a general amnesty?
§ The Prime MinisterHis Majesty's Government are most anxious to see the termination of the war in Spain without further bloodshed, and they will maintain touch with both sides in case their services should be desired to bring them together. But they do not consider it advisable at present to take the responsibility of sponsoring any particular terms of settlement.
§ 24. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Prime Minister whether a condition of the surrender of Minorca to the Nationalist forces, to which the representative of the British Government agreed, was that certain persons should be evacuated to safety; and whether all of those persons were, in fact, so evacuated?
§ The Prime MinisterAs I have already informed the House, His Majesty's Government took no part in the negotiations for the surrender of Minorca and made themselves in no way responsible for the 1702 conditions of that surrender. They merely provided a channel of communication between the two parties. It was at the independent suggestion of General Franco's representatives that His Majesty's Ship "Devonshire" agreed to embark certain refugees.
§ Mr. RobertsHas the attention of the Prime Minister been drawn to the statement made by the captain of the "Devonshire," widely reported in the Press, in which he states that the Governor of Minorca agreed to surrender only on condition that the cruiser "Devonshire" did take off a specified list of refugees? Is that statement correct or not?
§ The Prime MinisterI could not say. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put the question down.
§ 54. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will call for a report from the commanding officer of His Majesty's Ship "Devonshire" concerning the identity of the aircraft which recently made seven air raids on Port Mahon, Minorca, while that vessel was in the harbour?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. Shakespeare)No, Sir, we have already had a report from the commanding officer of His Majesty's Ship "Devonshire" which indicates that those aeroplanes which were seen from his ship to be engaged in bombing Minorca appeared to resemble an Italian type.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn view of the explanation by the Prime Minister yesterday that these bombing raids were carried out in disobedience of orders, are we to understand that Italian aircraft in Majorca refuse to obey General Franco's orders and accept Mussolini's?
§ Mr. ShakespeareThat is not a question for me.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherHas any protest been addressed to the Italian Government about this bombing?
§ Mr. PrittAnd has any inquiry been made concerning the boasts in the Italian Press about these raids?