§ Mr. W. Robertsasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement concerning the activities of the British Commission for the exchange of Spanish war prisoners; how far it has intervened; and with what results, with General Franco, since the capture of Madrid?
1342W
§ Mr. ButlerThe work of the British Commission for the Exchange of Prisoners began in August, 1938, and ceased when the civil war ended last March. During that time, although no spectacular results were obtained, the Commission made a valuable contribution towards the completion of an exchange for prisoners in the Cuban Embassy at Madrid and towards an exchange of 167 Italian prisoners of war in Republican hands against an equal number of International Brigade prisoners in the hands of the Spanish Government. Further, the Commission was able to play an important part in persuading both sides to refrain from executing death penalties imposed for political offences and so contributed to the saving of many lives. In the last days before the fall of Madrid, the activities of the liaison officer of the Commission, in co-operation with the Acting British Consul, did much to ensure the safety of the refugees in foreign Missions.
The last part of the question does not arise, since the Commission's activities ceased with the disappearance of any organised Republican authority following the fall of Madrid.