§ Commander Bowerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he has recently asked the British representatives in General Franco's zone whether there is any reason why the Basque children now in this country should not be returned to their parents; and, if not, whether he will instruct them to make such an inquiry;
(2) whether he will inquire through the British representatives whether the Basque children who have been returned to the districts whence they originally came have been subjected to ill-treatment of any sort; and whether he will make a full statement as to the facts;
(3) whether he has received any recent information with regard to the situation in Bilbao and district, particularly as to whether peace and order have been reestablished; and whether the majority of parents of the Basque children now in this country are still living in the district in question?
§ Mr. EdenMy information is to the effect that the situation in Bilbao and district is orderly, and that one or both of the parents of about half of the 4,000 children evacuated to this country are residing in that area or elsewhere in the territory under the control of General Franco. The National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief, who are responsible for the repatriation arrangements are satisfied that the parents of about 1,100 children have applied for their children's 1061W return, and nearly all the children thus applied for have been sent back. I understand that the National Joint Committee are making further inquiries with a view to verifying other applications received and that they are also considering the possibility of returning some of the 700 children of parents who are known or believed to be in Bilbao but who have submitted no applications. I have received no evidence that the children have been ill-treated on their return, and the Assistant Agent at Bilbao has reported that he is satisfied that the repatriation arrangements are being properly carried out by the local authorities.