§ 10. Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered a letter from the Hull Labour Party concerning the action of the War Office in sending either back to France or into prison here some 270 Spanish republican soldiers; how many were sent back to Casa Blanca; how many have now joined the British Army; and how many are still in British prisons?
§ Mr. EdenI have received a letter on this subject from the Hull Labour Party, and a reply has been sent. The 270 Spanish nationals were serving in a French Army labour unit, and, as such, remained under the orders of the French military authorities then in England, by whom all arrangements for their repatriation were made, both as to the ship in which they sailed, and their final destinations. Two hundred and forty-four of 1568 these men were so repatriated. The remaining 26 were unable to embark for various reasons and were in due course sent to a refugee reception centre where employment could be found for them in civil occupations. As no suitable military accommodation was available for these men when they landed in the United Kingdom, they were lodged in prisons, under arrangements made by the Home Office, pending repatriation. Their detention was effected at the request of the French military authorities. None of these men have joined units of the British Army, and none are now in British prisons.
§ Mr. WedgwoodWhy were these men, who had experience of fighting in Spain, not allowed to join even the A.M.P.S.?
§ Mr. EdenI would like notice of that question. I think these were men who came over at the time of Dunkirk; I think that is the position.