HL Deb 31 July 1956 vol 199 cc420-1
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can now make a further report as to the result of their representations to the Spanish Government concerning the seizure of Bibles, Testaments, Gospels and other books in Madrid on 24th April.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)

My Lords, I regret that I am still unable to report a settlement of this matter, although there have been further developments. A reply from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Her Majesty's Embassy's representations on this subject was received on July 10. This maintained that some of the books concerned had contravened Spanish printing regulations. Her Majesty's Ambassador addressed a further Note to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 18 denying that this was so in the case of the bulk of the books confiscated. He raised the question of the imported books, which are not bound by Spanish printing regulations, and reiterated Her Majesty's Government's claim for the return of the confiscated volumes or the payment of full compensation. The Spanish Government's answer to this Note is now awaited.

These developments have been explained to the British and Foreign Bible Society's representative in London, with whom we remain in close touch. I can assure the noble Viscount that we shall continue to do our utmost to achieve a satisfactory settlement.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, I am much obliged for the noble Marquess's full reply to the Question and I am grateful for the steps he has taken. I note that he will keep in touch with the British and Foreign Bible Society. The noble Marquess will remember that I drew attention on a previous occasion to the relation of this matter to the Declaration of Human Rights. May I ask him, therefore, whether he has seen the report in The Times of July 2, of a statement by Bishop Vizcarra, apparently addressed largely to myself, in which it is said that all that is prohibited in Spain is engaging in anti-Catholic proselytism, to attract the unwary and to destroy Catholic unity. I have no desire to destroy Catholic unity, but Article 18 of the Charter of Human Rights, to which I must also draw attention, says: Everyone has the right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Will the noble Marquess bear in mind, in further engaging in this matter, that all we desire is that there shall be in Spain the same freedom for teaching, therefore involving proselytism, as is so freely given in this Protestant country to our Catholic friends, thousands of whom are our very respected friends.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, I did see the statement by the Bishop to whom the noble Viscount, Lord Alexander of HILLS-BOROUGH, refers, which seemed to be directed largely to the remarks which the noble Viscount had made in this House. As regards the latter part of what the noble Viscount has just said, those are, of course, considerations which have to be borne closely in mind in dealing with a matter of this kind.

LORD PAKENHAM

My Lords, I have no doubt that the noble Viscount, my revered Leader, has no desire to destroy or impair Catholic unity, nor, for that matter, the unity on his own Front Bench among his devoted flock. But I should like to put to the noble Marquess this thought: that while this idea of equal treatment for all religious minorities commends the assent of all of us, I hope he will bear that in mind the next time the question of denominational education in this country is officially considered.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

My Lords, I think I must leave the further conduct of this controversy to the Front Bench opposite.