HC Deb 03 February 1938 vol 331 cc397-8W
Mr. Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can see his way to initiate representations to both sides in the civil war in Spain with a view to the mutual abandonment of the bombardment of unfortified places, having regard to the suffering and loss of life amongst non-combatants; and whether he will seek the good offices of the Vatican for this purpose?

Mr. Eden

As I informed the House yesterday, His Majesty's Government took the initiative in this matter a few clays ago, and I would prefer to await the result of that step before making any further statement.

Mr. Jagger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the patrol in the Mediterranean has detected the presence of any pirate submarines in extra-territorial waters since the date of the Nyon Agreement; and, if so, what happened to the submarines so detected?

Mr. Eden

No such submarine has been detected by the British patrol nor, so far as I am aware, by the French or Italian patrols. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any recent information as to whether munitions are still being sent from Italy and Germany to the Spanish insurgents; and whether the Non-intervention Committee intend to take any action to prevent the violation of the Non-intervention Agreement?

Mr. Eden

I understand that no reports regarding the despatch of war material to Spain have been recently submitted to the Non-intervention Committee. As regards the second part of the question, the hon. Member will be aware that the committee have under consideration a plan for restoring and strengthening the system of observation on the land and sot frontiers of Spain.

Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of His Majesty's consular agents are at present stationed in the island of Majorca; and, if so, how many and in what places their offices are situated?

Mr. Eden

There is one British Consul in Majorca, whose office is at Palma.

Mr. Denville

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any complaints in regard to the difficulty in obtaining delivery in London of newspapers posted daily from that part of Spain controlled by General Franco; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs?

Sir W. Womersley

My hon. Friend himself wrote to the Postmaster-General on this subject on 18th January, but my right hon. Friend has received no other complaints about the difficulty of obtaining delivery in London of newspapers from that part of Spain controlled by General Franco. I am having inquiry made in the matter and will write to my hon. Friend.