asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the declared intention of the Spanish insurgent authorities to raze Bilbao to the ground and destroy its inhabitants, and in consequence of such declaration following the destruction of Guernica by bombing and machine-gunning from the air, he will ask for an immediate meeting of the League Council with a view to action by the League in order to avert this threat being carried out?

So far as the reference of any aspect of the Spanish conflict to the Council of the League is concerned, this is clearly in the first instance a matter for the Spanish Government. The Non-Intervention Committee, on the initiative of His Majesty's Government, are, however, at present considering the possibility of an approach to the contending parties in the Spanish civil war with a view to preventing the recurrence of the bombardment of the civilian population.

Is the Foreign Secretary aware of a report that it is intended to make air attacks on Bilbao and Madrid on an overwhelming and unprecedented scale, and in view of the fact that the House is adjourning to-morrow for nearly three weeks, will he given an assurance that in the event of the Non-Intervention Committee failing to arrive at an agreement to take effective action in this matter, he will undertake to raise the matter at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League?

The hon. Member will be aware, from the answer that I have already given, of the importance that we attach to this matter. That is why we have raised it in this way before the Non-Intervention Committee, which is to meet again on Friday. I am afraid that I cannot give an undertaking about what I might or might not do at the Council of the League. This is a matter which clearly, in the first place, would be a matter for the Spanish Government which is a permanent member of the Council.

Will the right hon. Gentleman concede that in the event of the Non-Intervention Committee failing to take action there is a possibility of the situation developing into a worse situation, which would be a matter for the League under Article II of the Covenant?

I am conscious, and the Government are conscious, of the gravity of events, and that is why we have taken the initiative ourselves.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the account in the "Times" to-day and the official account printed yesterday of the bombing of Guernica, and do not those accounts show that the original account was entirely inaccurate?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have laid concrete proposals before the Non-Intervention Committee for the evacuation of foreigners fighting in the civil war in Spain?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to state what progress has been made by the Non-Intervention Committee as to the withdrawal of foreign nationals serving in Spain?.

The first step in dealing with this very complex and difficult subject is clearly to reach agreement on the broad lines of the questions under examination. With this aim in view, as I informed the House on Monday last, the Technical Sub-Committee specially appointed to deal with this subject met on that day. The British representatives on this subcommittee are taking their full part in the discussions, and I understand that good progress has been made.

As it is now three weeks since the decision was made to draw up a scheme of this kind, can the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to expedite practical proposals?

The hon. Member cannot be more anxious than I am to expedite this matter, but the problem is one, as he will admit, of extreme difficulty, and I think the Technical Committee are doing all they can in the circumstances.

In view of the fact that foreign aeroplanes are still arriving in large numbers, with foreign pilots, on whatever side it may be, will the right hon. Gentleman take very urgent action, seeing the grave danger of the situation?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Non-Intervention Committee have received any information as to the number of foreign nationals serving in the forces of the Spanish Government and the Spanish insurgents, respectively?

Not so far as I am aware.

May I ask whether there are any observers at the headquarters of both armies, having regard to the fact that the non-intervention and supervision scheme is to see whether foreign nationals are there?

I understand it is the duty of observers to go on ships at certain specified ports.

Is it not necessary to know whether foreign nationals are there or not?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the landing of 1,500 Germans at San Sebastian on 27th April?

My attention has been called to a Press report to this effect. I have no information tending to confirm the report, but I am making inquiries.

Do I understand that the German contribution in Northern Spain has been limited to the massacre at Guernica?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of participating in the investigation being undertaken by the French Government representatives as to the responsibility for the destruction of Guernica, either jointly or independently or through the appropriate organ of the League of Nations?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the House on Monday last on the subject of the steps which His Majesty's Government were taking to establish the facts regarding the destruction of Guernica. As I have already stated, the Non-Intervention Committee are, on the initiative of His Majesty's Government, considering the possibility of an approach to the contending parties in regard to the bombardment of civilian populations. His Majesty's Government are, of course, in close touch on the whole subject with the French Government, who are in accord with the procedure to which I have just referred.

Has not the Spanish Foreign Minister invited an investigation on the spot?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.

If the right hon. Gentleman is pressing for an inquiry on this subject, will there be a similar inquiry on Eibar and other places which were deliberately burnt down by retiring Government troops?

Why is it necessary for the hon. Member to ask for an inquiry when in his previous question he makes an allegation?

In view of the obstruction by German and Italian delegates at the Non-Intervention Committee when this question was considered, can we ask the Foreign Secretary to give us an assurance that during the Recess His Majesty's Government will take some means of finding out what really happened and who were responsible?

I should not like the House to accept the opening part of the hon. Member's supplementary question. I think in a matter of this kind we must accept the communique issued by the Committee itself. The Committee is to meet again on Friday, and the House can be sure that we shall do everything we can to further progress. Our objective is not concerned with one side or the other; we wish to stop all destruction of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reason why the British Government, on the Non-Intervention Sub-Committee, have refused to support the request of the Governments of Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, with the support of France, Belgium, Russia and Czechoslovakia, that the main Non-Intervention Committee should be summoned to decide what action should be taken regarding ships already seized by the Spanish rebels, and in future cases of interference with vessels in Spanish waters despite the presence on board of observers of the International Non-Intervention Board; and whether the matter is to be considered?

The hon. Member appears to be misinformed. He will see from the communique issued after the meeting of the Chairman's Sub-Committee on 3rd May that a preliminary discussion took place at that meeting, and that it was decided to call a full meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee to consider this subject further this morning.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that in the event of any scheme being agreed upon for the protection of ships the British Government are willing to co-operate?

I should like to know the nature of the scheme.

Are we to understand from the reply that the British Government do support the proposal of these northern countries?

The hon. Member must understand from the reply that the matter is being considered this morning. I do not myself know the outcome of the discussion.

What is the attitude of His Majesty's Government? Are they supporting the proposal of the northern countries that neutral shipping should be preserved from illegal attacks?

That, obviously depends in a large measure on the nature of the proposal.

Will His Majesty's Government consider sympathetic co-operation?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the sinking of the Spanish insurgent battleship by Spanish Government aeroplanes, he is prepared to reconsider the proposed increase of expenditure on the battleship programme?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the circumstances attending the sinking of the rebel Spanish warship "Espana"?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state definitely whether the Spanish insurgent vessel "Espana" was sunk by aircraft or mined?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information regarding the sinking of the Spanish battleship "Espana"; and what conclusions can be drawn regarding the vulnerability of battleships to aerial attack?

The House will be aware that reports have been published in the Press attributing the sinking of the "Espana" to bombs dropped from aeroplanes. I understand that it was also claimed locally that this vessel had been sunk by shellfire from coast batteries. While it is impossible in the nature of things finally to establish the cause, all the information in the possession of the Admiralty leads to the conclusion that the "Espana" was sunk by a mine and not by bombs or shellfire.

The British steamship "Knitsley" reports that the Spanish destroyer"Velasco,"which was attempting to intercept the"Knitsley," was apparently called to the assistance of the "Espana" shortly after 8.15 a.m. The destroyer was seen to go alongside the "Espana," or to close her, on the side remote from the "Knitsley." No aircraft were observed until 9.20 a.m., that is, after the battleship had been stationary, with the destroyer in close attendance, for approximately an hour. Three aircraft then appeared at a considerable height above the clouds, and the "Espana" opened fire with anti-aircraft guns, but made no attempt to get under way, as would have been expected if an undamaged ship had been attacked by aircraft. Observers on board the "Knitsley," which was at no great distance, have stated definitely that they saw no bombs falling on or in the vicinity of the "Espana"; and although two loud explosions were heard, these were assumed to be shore batteries firing.

Some time afterwards the "Espana" took a list to port and subsequently turned bottom upwards, sinking stern first at approximately 10.10 a.m., and the "Velasco" was seen to come clear with her decks crowded with men. The Admiralty understand the view of the Spanish Insurgent naval authorities themselves to be that the ship was sunk whilst turning under helm by a floating mine, that is, a mine which had broken away from its moorings. I may explain to the House that, owing to the effect of the bow wave in deflecting the mine, a ship is unlikely to be damaged by a floating mine unless she is turning under helm, when the stern in swinging out may come into contact with the mine. This view is consistent with the account received from steamship "Knitsley" to the effect that the ship sank stern first.

Is the Minister aware that he informed the House that the ship was stationary and that then, in order to try to justify the suggestion of a mine, he said it was not stationary but was swinging round? Further, is he aware that 50 aeroplanes could attack a battleship and that with the precision with which they can fire torpedoes now, it is almost certain one or other would make a lucky hit, and that even if the 50 aeroplanes were destroyed, the destruction of the battleship would be sure?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the countries that have introduced legislation or have regulations that give them power to repatriate at public expense distressed aliens within a specified period of their entry; and any particulars of the number of British subjects who have been so repatriated to Great Britain during the last 12 months.

Repatriation of a distressed foreigner is usually regarded as the function of the State of which he is a national, and I presume that what the hon. Member has in mind is legislation in regard to deportation. His Majesty's Government have not a complete record of foreign legislation on this matter. With regard to the second part of the question, I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a further statement with regard to the position and prospects of the British officers and constables of the Egyptian police whose services have been, or shortly will be, terminated in consequence of the provisions of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air has agreed to put 20 of the constables through a short course of training in order to see for what posts they would be suitable. Six of the Maltese constables have been offered employment at His Majesty's dockyard at Malta and two have been offered posts in the Malta police. One constable has obtained employment and another is under consideration for employment with the Automobile Association as patrols, and it is hoped that similar employment may be found not only with this Association, but with the Royal Automobile Club for other constables. According to the latest information in my possession, out of a total of II British officers and 77 constables leaving this year, three British officers and 29 constables have secured fresh employment, while one officer and 34 constables have prospects or are considering offers of employment.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask if he appreciates that the remainder will find themselves in a very difficult position at the end of this month in not knowing whether to come home in search of employment or to remain in Egypt, and will he continue to impress on the Secretary of State for the Colonies the fact that these men have a knowledge of Arabic and great experience of civil disturbances and, therefore, are ideally suitable for service in Palestine?

I am conscious of the importance of finding employment for these men and we have worked very hard at it. It is not unsatisfactory that we have succeeded in placing 60 out of 70.

Will the Foreign Secretary be good enough to impress on the Minister of Agriculture the necessity to take the same steps in regard to people who are put out of work by the Livestock Industry Bill?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received information concerning the nature of a further amendment to the Native Administration Amendment Ordinance No. 35, of 1936?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Gold Coast Ordinance No. 25, of 1936, which amended the Native Administration Ordinance, 1927. I am not aware of any proposal further to amend the Ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received further particulars concerning investigation of the letters alleged to have been written by Sir Ofori Atta to certain high officials of the Gold Coast Government with the intention to frustrate the ends of justice; and by whom the investigation was carried out?

I have no further information beyond that contained in the report on this subject which was placed in the Library of the House on 17th February. That report shows that the investigations were conducted by the local police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now give any information regarding the property of the four members of the Ashanti branch of the West African Youth League, whose conviction for offences of conspiracy against the Asantehene was quashed by the West African court of appeal, and who have been prevented from returning to their homes in Ashanti under the provisions laid down in Ordinance Ashanti No. 44, of 1936?

Representations were made to me in November last regarding the position of these persons and their dependants, who, it was alleged, were undergoing hardship despite the possession of properties said to be valued at £12,000. I have made inquiries of the Governor and am informed that so far from their properties being worth such a sum as £12,000, only one man owns property of any value and that that property is very heavily mortgaged. I am advised that their position is not such as would appear to call for Governmental assistance.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these men are in a position of destitution in the district where they are living, and cannot something be done to provide them with at least the necessities of life?

If the hon. Member will let me have any information at his disposal, I will submit it to the Government of Ashanti.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any legislation is contemplated in Zanzibar for the purpose of restricting land ownership and trade activities of Indians in that Colony; and whether any representations from Indians have been received on the matter?

If the purpose of the hon. Member's question is to inquire whether legislation is in contemplation in Zanzibar discriminating against Indians as such, the answer is in the negative. What is in contemplation is legislation to protect the native, Arab or African, landowners and cultivators of Zanzibar against eviction from their land by any persons who are not natives, and to remodel the marketing of cloves, the only important export product of Zanzibar, on what can most conveniently be described as cooperative lines, so as to ensure that the producers, whatever their race may be, get the full value of their crops. No racial discrimination of any kind is contemplated. Various representations on the subject of this legislation have been received and are now being considered by the Zanzibar Government.

Is that the information from the Acting Resident which the right hon. Gentleman promised to get last week?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the export quotas of sugar for each of the British sugar-producing Colonies which have been proposed as the basis of an agreement at the International Sugar Conference; and how these quotas compare with the present exports of sugar from those Colonies?

As the International Sugar Conference is not yet ended I cannot make any statement as to the exact obligations which may be accepted on behalf of the British Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements were made to represent the sugar producers of Uganda at the International Sugar Conference; whether his attention has been called to the anxiety of these producers lest Uganda sugar production should be curtailed in any way; and whether he is now in a position to state to what extent it will be curtailed and to what extent this will necessitate the destruction of existing crops or the abandonment of acreage now devoted to sugar production in that colony?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what arrangements were made by him to consult the sugar producers of Uganda in connection with the International Sugar Conference; and whether he can give an assurance that no decision will be reached affecting such producers until they have been fully consulted;

(2) whether he is aware that the estimated sugar production of Uganda, on the basis of cane already planted, will reach about 42,000 tons per annum within two years; what export quota is to be imposed upon Uganda as a result of the Sugar Conference; and whether he is satisfied that any decision resulting from the conference will in no way prevent the necessary expansion of the Uganda sugar industry and the maintenance of low production costs and low prices for the large native population?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present sugar production of Uganda and what is the estimated output for the next two years; and whether consideration will be given to the peculiar position of Uganda sugar producers in connection with the present proposals for limitation of production at the International Sugar Conference?

As already announced, I set up art Advisory Panel of representatives of Colonial producers in connection with the International Sugar Conference, and Major Dale, who is in charge of the East African Dependencies Trade and Information Office, was appointed on that panel to represent the East African Territories in agreement with the East African Governments. I have been informed by him and by the Government of Uganda about the anxiety of Uganda producers as to their position under an international sugar agreement. It is proposed under such an agreement to accept obligations only on behalf of the Colonial Empire as a whole, and the precise treatment of Uganda in the event of an agreement would have to be settled in consultation with the other Colonial territories concerned. I am not, therefore, able to make any definite announcement at this moment, but I can assure the hon. Members that every consideration will be given to any special circumstances applying to Uganda as to any other territory in the Colonial Empire. As to figures of production, the exact figures of output for the last year are not available, but it was approximately 20,000 tons; and estimates of future production, which are, however, entirely provisional, are 36,000 tons for the crop year 1937–38 and 42,000 tons for 1938–39.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the small experimental recruitment among Nyasaland natives, which he has authorised for work on the Rand in South Africa, provides for proper transport, rest, and health conditions to and from the natives' homes and places of employment; whether facilities will be provided for family settlement in South Africa; and what are the terms of the licence and to whom is it issued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Family settlement is not contemplated. A licence for the experimental recruitment was issued to the London and Blantyre Supply Company under section 25 of the Nyasaland Employment of Natives Ordinance. I hope to publish shortly a report on the experiment by a senior Nyasaland official who has recently visited the Rand.

In view of the conditions of employment, the danger to health involved and the absence of family life, will the Minister give this matter his closest supervision?

The hon. Member knows that all recruitment for work in the gold mines on the Rand is non-family and purely temporary. Of course, we know that the health conditions are important, and in so far as I have information to date, the health conditions of those now in employment in the Rand mines are satisfactory.

Has the Union Government made any application to be allowed to recruit labour in these areas; and is it not a fact that when labour has been recruited from these tropical areas previously the death rate has been very high; and, further, if the natives are not allowed to take their families with them, are they going to live under the compound system which is so notorious?

As the hon. Member knows, great changes have been made in the compounds on the Rand in recent years. Certainly if they go to work in the Johannesburg area they will have to live in compounds. It is true that the Government of the Union of South Africa have hitherto not desired to recruit labour north of a certain latitude, but they now require to do so. This is an experiment which we have to watch in order to ascertain whether it does in any way harm the natives or not.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Federated Malay States Government have laid down that when clerks who have lost their employment through retrenchment are taken back into the service they shall receive the same salary as before, and that the period during which they have been without employment shall be regarded as no pay leave and taken into consideration for the purpose of pension; and whether he will intervene to prevent this provision being ignored in the railway department, where clerks are obliged to re-enter employment at a salary of 26 dollars a month in the lower division of the railway clerical service under the railway clerical scheme, which came into force after they had lost their former employment and of the conditions of which they are compelled to sign an agreement not to complain during their renewed service?

I have at present no information enabling me to check the statements made in the hon. Member's question, but I will ask the High Commissioner for a report on the terms applicable to the re-employment of this class of personnel in the Federated Malay States railways, and will communicate with the hon. Member when I have received it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Govern- ment's intention to raise the salaries of Ministers, he will consider taking the necessary action to diminish the discrepancy between the salaries of the Chairman of Ways and Means and of the Deputy-Chairman?

The question of the existing relation between the salaries attached to the two posts referred to by my hon. Friend does not seem to me to arise in connection with the Ministers' Salaries Bill. The question is one for consideration in the first instance by the Commissioners for regulating the Offices of the House of Commons.

With regard to the other part of the question, which the Prime Minister has not answered, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, if the Cabinet have not made up their minds on Members' salaries, to make up his mind on it and give us an answer before he resigns? May I have a reply to that question?

I should have notice of it.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken by the Government to implement their undertaking with regard to the revision of the remuneration enjoyed by the Law Officers for England?

The terms of my hon. Friend's question may give rise to some misunderstanding which I must correct. The Minister of Health, in the course of the Debate last Wednesday, said that the Government would take into consideration the views expressed on this subject during the discussion, and that, of course, will be done.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are any regulations in any county or county borough of England and Wales governing the distribution of political literature to headmasters, headmistresses, or teachers at the schools?

I have no knowledge of regulations such as the hon. Member refers to having been made by any county or county borough in England and Wales.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that political literature has recently been distributed, including a manifesto and an enrolment card, in the schools of Nottinghamshire by an organisation calling itself the National Labour party, and, in view of that fact, will he view with complacency other political parties doing the same sort of thing?

If the hon. Member has any information, perhaps he will bring it to my notice. He will realise that teachers, as well as being teachers, are human beings, and are entitled as such to hold political views.

I am asking whether it is permissible to do this in the schools, and whether if one party does it can we all do it?

The hon. Member had better give me any information he has.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the increased demand for tin plates and sheets, the restrictions upon production that have been operating in the industry in South Wales have now been removed; and whether, in view of the increased demand, he will negotiate with the owners of the tin and sheet mills situate at Garnant, Glanamman, Brynamman, and Llangennech with a view to the resumption of work at these mills which have been idle for a considerable time?

The owners of these works will no doubt consider the possibility of reopening them if the present demand continues and raw material is available.

Has the hon. Gentleman received representations from the men's union that they are of the opinion that the time is now appropriate for a sharing or spread-over of the work, so as to enable those works to resume operations?

Two of the works belong to a company which has other works under construction and, further, as the House will understand, none of these works make steel.

Cannot the Government make representations that it is not in the national interest or the public interest that a company should construct new works when it has existing works which it keeps closed? May I have a reply?