Vice-Admiral Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that French volunteers and munitions of war are still being sent to Spain to assist the Valencia Government; and has he any information to give on this matter?
§ Viscount CranborneMy right hon. Friend has received no official reports which would confirm these allegations.
§ Mr. Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can indicate what steps are proposed to safe- 1191W guard British interests and protect British residents if any, in the area of Bilbao, in view of the declared decision of His Majesty's Government not to grant belligerent rights to the insurgent forces in their threatened blockade?
§ Viscount CranborneHis Majesty's Consul is still at Bilbao for the purpose of giving such protection as is possible to British subjects and British interests there. Warnings have from time to time been given to British subjects there as elsewhere advising them to leave, and stating that they remain at their own risk. This, however, would not preclude such arrangements being made for their evacuation as circumstances might dictate.
§ Mr. Morganasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of official Italian statements that men, material and other assistance are still being supplied to the Valencia Government by France and Russia, the Non-Intervention Committee is in a position to publish any statement in corroboration or denial of these allegations?
§ Viscount CranborneSo far as I am aware no communication of this kind has been made to the Non-Intervention Committee by the Italian Government.
§ Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the number of protests made to the insurgent authorities at Salamanca on behalf of His Majesty's Government and the number of replies received?
§ Viscount CranbornePerhaps the hon. Member will be good enough in the first place to consult the terms of the replies given by my right hon. Friend to similar questions asked by the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) and the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) yesterday and on Tuesday respectively.
§ Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by the Government as a result of the broadcast from rebel headquarters in Spain that British ships should respond quickly to any orders given by the rebels?
§ Viscount CranborneThis broadcast does not appear to call for any action by His Majesty's Government. The attitude which His Majesty's Government propose1192W to adopt towards the treatment of British ships off the coast of Spain has, as was stated in the course of yesterday's Debate, been made quite clear to the insurgent authorities.