HC Deb 20 November 1940 vol 365 cc1954-5
4. Mr. Bobbie

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why an intimation has been made to Dr. Negrin, the Prime Minister of Spain in the late Spanish Republican Government, at present enjoying the right of asylum in this country, in regard to his leaving the country?

Mr. Butler

His Majesty's Government have no intention of departing from the established practice of this country in the general treatment extended to those who seek refuge here, and no steps have been taken to oblige Dr. Negrin to leave. The hon. Member may rest assured that the considerations he has in mind are also in the mind of His Majesty's Government, but it is of course understood that Dr. Negrin should continue to refrain from all political activities.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the fact that Dr. Negrin was approached in the last two months—quite recently—to induce him to leave this country?

Mr. Butler

I think the hon. Member cannot have listened to the answer which I gave, in which I said that the considerations which were in the mind of the hon. Member who put the Question were in the mind of His Majesty's Government. There has been contact between Dr. Negrin and His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Shinwell

I again put the question. Is it not true that Dr. Negrin was approached by representatives of the Government in the last two months to induce him to leave the country, and that Dr. Negrin declined? Is that not true? And may I further ask for an assurance that no Labour member of the Government was associated with this discreditable attempt to induce Dr. Negrin to leave this country?

Mr. Butler

As is very often the case with the hon. Member's Supplementary Questions, he has put a turn of phrase which gives an altogether wrong impression of the contact which has taken place between Dr. Negrin and His Majesty's Government, and I would refer him to the terms of my answer, which represents the policy of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Dobbie

Is there any intention on the part of His Majesty's Government to insist that Dr. Negrin should leave the country? Do I understand that to be the case?

Mr. Butler

I must refer the hon. Member to the terms of my answer.

Mr. Shinwell

On a point of Order. A Question has been put on the Paper by an hon. Member asking for a reply on a specific point. It is very desirable that a reply should be given quite categorically, so that there should be no dubiety about the matter at issue. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether there is any protection to hon. Members, in view of the definite information in their possession, in putting Questions to Members of the Government?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member put a Question on the Paper, and he has received the answer of the Minister concerned, and he cannot expect any more.

Mr. G. Strauss

The answer given seemed to have no relation to the Question. The Question was whether intimation had been given to Dr. Negrin to leave the country, and the answer that we were given was that the Government had not obliged Dr. Negrin to leave the country, which is quite a different matter, and we ought to have that difference cleared up.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must accept the answer that has been given.

Mr. Dobbie

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question at the first favourable opportunity.