HC Deb 30 June 1937 vol 325 cc1969-70W
Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information indicating that aeroplanes belonging to or flown by nationals of any of the 27 nations which have appealed to the Spanish authorities to refrain from bombing open towns have been concerned in the aerial raids on Guernica and Bilbao?

Viscount Cranborne

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 21st June to a question asked by the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day).

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any evidence that, as a result of the international control arrangement, any men or munitions have been prevented from reaching either side in Spain; and, if so, what are the numbers of men and the types and quantities of munitions which have been intercepted in the case of either side?

Viscount Cranborne

As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 16th June, our information goes to show that, since the agreement of 20th February concerning volunteers, the flow of foreign nationals to Spain has been checked, and no instances of such arrivals have been notified to the Board for Non-Intervention since the entry into force of the scheme of observation of the Spanish frontiers. It is unfortunately the case, as has been stated by the representative of His Majesty's Government in the Non-Intervention Committee, that breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement in respect of munitions have still occurred, but I am not in a position to give any definite estimates as suggested in the second part of the hon. and gallant Member's question.