Duchess of Athollasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that 32 German steamers landed war material in ports under the control of the Spanish insurgents between 2nd January, 1938, and 14th March; and whether, on account of these breaches of the Non-Intervention Agreement, he will inform the French Government that he will raise no objection to any war material passing over their frontier into Catalonia that they may think advisable for their own security?
§ Mr. ButlerNo evidence in support of the facts alleged has reached His Majesty's Government from the Bureau of the Non-Intervention Board. As the House is aware, the improved international scheme of observation which His Majesty's Government would like to see adopted has not yet come into force. As regards the second part of the question, the policy of the Government was made clear in the course of last Monday's Debate.
Duchess of Athollasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, from 21st February to 14th March, 27 Italian ships bringing war material to the Spanish insurgents entered various Spanish ports; that on 26th March the steamship 360W " Franca Fasscio" arrived at Seville with 250 Italian aviators; that on 27th and 28th March the Spanish ships "Andraea Mendi," "Vlia Mendi," and "Jupiter," escorted by two Italian destroyers and several aeroplanes, arrived at Cadiz, together with the Italian hospital ship "Trieste "; that these ships had on board 4,500 Italian infantry, 500 Blackshirts, 200 artillery men, 15 chaser aeroplanes, five heavy tanks, 10 small tanks, three petrol lorries, eight chassis for heavy lorries, 300 very heavy aviation bombs, and many cases of small shells, machine guns, and projectiles; and whether, in view of these violations of the conditions on which he entered on negotiations with the Italian Government, he will bring these negotiations to an end?
§ Mr. ButlerFrom the inquiries which I have made I can find no foundation in fact for these allegations. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.