§ 9. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Prime Minister whether any response has been received from General Franco to the inquiries made by His Majesty's Government with regard to the possible evacuation of refugees from the territories of Republican Spain; and whether any further steps can be taken to facilitate the evacuation of such refugees?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. I regret I have at present nothing further to add to previous 2021 replies on this subject. The Exchange Commission are in touch with both parties with a view to furthering some agreement whereby an orderly evacuation of a limited number of refugees can take place.
§ Mr. HarveyIn view of the fact that more than a fortnight has elapsed since the British Government made inquiries of General Franco, and in view of the urgency of the matter, is it not possible to take some further steps?
§ Mr. ButlerAs I informed the House last week, we have made a further inquiry, and I regret that we have nothing more to report.
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennIn the meantime have not the Foreign Office warned British ships that were going to take refugees away of the danger of doing so?
§ Mr. ButlerI should want to make inquiries before replying.
§ Mr. BennIs the right hon. Gentleman not well aware of the correspondence that has taken place with some of these ships, notably one from Manchester, of the danger if they attempted to take refugees off?
§ Mr. ButlerIn order to give the right hon. Gentleman an accurate answer I should prefer to investigate the point.
§ Mr. ShinwellHaving regard to the new position in Spain, will the Government give an assurance that they will use their influence with General Franco's Government to safeguard the position of the refugees?
§ Mr. ButlerWe will certainly do our best for them.
§ Mr. W. RobertsIs it not a fact that ships are waiting at this moment in Valencia harbour ready to take off refugees and that all that is required is one word from the British Government and these persons lives could be saved?
§ Mr. ButlerI appreciate the importance of the hon. Member's point, and I believe that he is bringing a deputation to see me immediately upon this matter.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsWhat instructions have been given to the British Navy to help to evacuate these Republicans?
§ Mr. ButlerThose instructions have been communicated to the House and I will take steps to inform the hon. Member of them.
§ Captain Peter MacdonaldWhat reason is there to believe that the lives of these people are in danger?