§ Mr. Dobbieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what objections, if any, have been made to the present scheme for an international naval cordon now before the Non-Intervention Committee; by whom they have been made; and what is their nature;
(2) what are the details of the scheme of the Non-Intervention Committee for an international naval cordon to check further intervention in Spain; what is the estimated total cost; and what is the cost for each Government which is cooperating?
§ Mr. EdenThe Non-Intervention Committee has agreed as from 20th February to adopt a system of supervision, which includes a plan for naval observation of the coasts of Spain and the Spanish Dependencies, subject to the final adjustment of outstanding questions connected therewith. One of these questions related to the number of Powers which will take part in this naval patrol. As stated in the communiqué issued by the Sub-Committee on 26th February the Soviet representative stated that his Government did not propose at present to exercise their right to take part in the naval patrol. The Portuguese representative stated that so long as the scheme was entrusted only to the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, his Government would not desire to participate. The representatives of the four Powers then agreed to submit to their respective Governments the scheme for supervision already prepared by the Technical Advisory Sub-Committee with a view to settling the technical problems involved in its application. The expenses incurred by each Navy will be met by the respective Governments. No detailed estimate of the individual or aggregate costs is at present available.