HC Deb 04 November 1946 vol 428 cc1058-60
Mr. Sydney Silverman (by Private Notice)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make regarding the reported ultimatum by the Governor of Gibraltar to Spanish republican political refugees, many of whom have lived there quietly since 1936, requiring them, in default of refuge elsewhere, to return to Spain within a month?

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Creech Jones)

I regret that at this point I have insufficient information to give an adequate answer to my hon. Friend. I can assure him, however, that there is no question of compelling the Spaniards in Gibraltar to return to Spain. It must, nevertheless, be remembered that many of these refugees are occupying accommodation which would otherwise be available for Gibraltarian evacuees from Northern Ireland. An announcement was recently made by the Governor to the effect that the Venezuelan Government had signified its readiness to accept as settlers those who belong to certain trades together with their families. In view of the grave accommodation difficulties facing native Gibraltarians it was felt, in spite of the great efforts of the Gibraltan authorities to provide new houses as rapidly as possible, that there are good reasons for advantage being taken of this opportunity. I am, however, in communication with the Governor on the matter.

Mr. Silverman

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that these refugees have been in Gibraltar since 1936, and that therefore it is very difficult to see how housing accommodation can come into it; and will he further, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, give a specific assurance that these refugees will be regarded everywhere in democratic countries as honoured guests, and that none of them will be returned against their will to Spanish territory?

Mr. Creech Jones

I have given the assurance that there is no question of compelling Spaniards in Gibraltar to return to Spain. The housing shortage is very acute in Gibraltar. There are nearly 2,000 evacuees in Northern Ireland waiting to return, and even with the great speeding up of the housing programme it will be impossible for some of those evacuees to return to Gibraltar within the space of even two years.

Mr. Pritt

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that if these refugees have remained in Gibraltar throughout the war, and were not evacuated to this country or elsewhere when, in general, the population was evacuated, they must have been regarded by the Governor of Gibraltar as very useful citizens indeed?

Mr. Creech Jones

It is quite true that many of them have performed very useful work in Gibraltar during the war period.

Sir H. O'Neill

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the 2,000 natives of Gibraltar who are in Northern Ireland have been there now for about three years, that they have been in wooden huts, in camps and in Nissen huts during all that time, that they have suffered very considerable hardships, and that one of the reasons why there is no accommodation for them in Gibraltar has been the presence of the Spanish refugees?

Mr. Creech Jones

That certainly is a fact, and the accommodation in Northern Ireland has not always been quite as satisfactory as we would have desired, but it is imperative that these people should be got back to Gibraltar as quickly as possible.

Mr. John Paton

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us the number of refugees concerned in this order?

Mr. Creech Jones

I am afraid I have not the number.

Mr. Stokes

May 1 ask my right hon. Friend whether, when he says they will not be forced to go back to Spain, that also includes a statement that there will be no economic or other sanctions imposed upon them, which will make their lives intolerable?

Mr. Creech Jones

As I said, I am in communication with the Governor of Gibraltar in regard to the nature of the most recent announcement, and until I hear from him I am not able to answer accurately the question for information by my hon. Friend.

Major Bramall

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House what difference there is between not forcing Spanish refugees, who do not wish to go back to their own country, to do so, and not forcing Polish refugees to go back to their own country?

Mr. Speaker

That is another question altogether.

Mr. S. Silverman

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that none of the considerations to which his attention has been called in this series of supplementary questions justifies in any way interfering, in these cases, with the right of political asylum?

Mr. Creech Jones

Yes, Sir. Obviously, we are fully alive to the importance of political asylum, but at the same time, there is a very real problem in Gibraltar, and we would hope that this offer which has been made in South America will be accepted by a number of persons who, after all, are not too comfortable where they are.

Mr. Rankin

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this decision was come to before or after consultation with him?

Mr. Creech Jones

There has been continuing discussion with the Colonial Office for the last few years in regard to the problem in Gibraltar, and the Governor has recently been in London, and this problem was discussed. But the final terms in regard to the statement which he made during the weekend, so far as I know, were not agreed.