§ Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Non-Intervention Board have received any reports regarding the landing of war materials from German and Belgian vessels at the port of Pasajes?
§ Viscount CranborneNo, Sir. I understand that as a result of reports published in the Press, the Non-Intervention Board made special inquiries into the alleged landing of certain consignments of munitions at this port, and found these reports to be without foundation.
§ Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to when German aeroplanes of the Heinkel III type first appeared in large numbers on the Basque front?
§ Viscount CranborneNo, Sir. There is some evidence, however, based mainly on Press reports, which tend to show that a576W few machines of this type were present on the Basque front at the beginning of April.
§ Mr. Samuelasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any response has been made by the Valencia Government to the suggestion emanating from General Franco that some agreement should be come to between the contestants for the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain?
§ Viscount CranborneHis Majesty's Government have noted with satisfaction statements which are reported to have been made recently on behalf of both parties in the Spanish conflict to the effect that they would be prepared, in certain circumstances, to contemplate the withdrawal of foreign combatants from Spain. As the House is aware, this is a matter to which His Majesty's Government attach the greatest importance, and they are most anxious that it should be possible to proceed with the discussion of the detailed measures which are already before the Non-Intervention Committee as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reports 9 have been received from British observers on the Portuguese frontier regarding the passage of arms across that frontier into Spain?
§ Viscount CranborneI am informed by His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon that he has received no reports of any attempt to pass arms or munitions across the Portuguese frontier into Spain, and that he is satisfied that during the time that the British observers have been on duty on the frontier, the agreement has been loyally carried out by the Portuguese Government so far as that frontier is concerned.
Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with the arrangements for facilitating the evacuation of refugees from Santander and their safe transit to or through France; how many refugees have been evacuated from Santander during the past fortnight in British ships and how many in ships owned by other nations; and whether the process of evacuation will now proced more rapidly?
§ Viscount CranborneThe hon. Member was informed on 5th July that the French Government were now prepared to allow 577W Spanish refugees, with the exception of males of military age, to pass in transit through France to other parts of Spain. I have definite information that seven British ships and one French ship have sailed from Santander with refugees, but it is probable that these numbers are not complete. It is estimated that on the average each ship can accommodate 1,500 refugees.