asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government intend to draw the attention of the signatories to the Convention of St. Germain, 1919, to the breach thereof committed by the Italian Government in expelling British missionaries from Abyssinia?

I am advised that it is doubtful whether the relevant article of the treaty could be used in this particular case, owing to the fact that His Majesty's Government have not recognised de jure the conquest of Abyssinia by Italy.

Apart altogether from the question of de jure recognition of the Italian occupation of Abyssinia, is it not a fact that the Italian Government has bound itself in this treaty not to interfere with missionaries?

The point is that it cannot be applied in this case because there has been no de jure recognition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the agreement regarding propaganda, which was entered into by His Majesty's Government and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, has been carried out by the latter Government; and, if not, whether he can give particulars of any breach that has occurred?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given by my Noble Friend on 15th February last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Peebles (Captain Ramsay) in answer to a similar question regarding the activities of the Third International in this country. My attention has not been drawn since that date to any cases of subversive propaganda which would warrant representations to the Soviet Government.

Is there any truth in Press reports that Russian money has been used extensively in interference with the legitimate secretary of the busmen's union.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any reply from General Franco to the protest against the mining of His Majesty's Ship "Hunter"; and whether His Majesty's Government are demanding compensation for the damage caused to this vessel?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs through what channel of communication the protest concerning the mining of His Majesty's Ship "Hunter" was sent to the Spanish insurgent authorities; and whether he has received any acknowledgement of his communication?

A protest to the insurgent authorities was made through His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye. In this protest His Majesty's Government reserved the right to present a claim for loss or damage incurred in consequence of the accident. A reply was received yesterday by Sir Henry Chilton claiming that the disaster to His Majesty's Ship "Hunter" was caused by a mine moored in territorial waters. This is at variance with the facts of the case as reported by His Majesty's Ship "Hunter." I am at present considering the further steps which should be taken.

Has my right hon. Friend any evidence that this mine was laid by General Franco's forces?

I would like notice of that question.

Will compensation be paid to relatives of men who lost their lives?

Certainly. The question of claims for damages is reserved.

Was careful consideration given to the origin of this incident by His Majesty's Government before they decided to send a protest to General Franco?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government's demand for the immediate release of the cargoes of the "Fernando L. de Ybarra" and the "Mar Baltico" has yet been complied with by General Franco?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my Noble Friend made in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White) on 24th May last. Since that time His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye has had further negotiations with the Salamancan authorities as a result of which they have now again placed the cargo of the "Mar Baltico" at the disposal of the British owners. Discussions are still proceeding as to how the cargo can best be transferred and shipped to the United Kingdom. This is, however, unfortunately not the case with the "Fernando L. de Ybarra" whose cargo, I understand, has already begun to be unloaded by the authorities in Pasajes and sent into the interior. Sir H. Chilton is continuing to press the authorities at Salamanca for an explanation of their conduct with regard to this case.

In view of the fact that a month has passed since the Government demanded the immediate release of these cargoes, would the right hon. Gentleman not consider fixing a time limit within which the Government expect a definite reply from Salamanca?

We have got one cargo, and we hope to get the other. That is not bad for a civil war.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the results of his inquiries into the alleged fortification by Germany of Ceuta and other places on the coast or Morocco?

As the result of inquiries which have been made in regard to fortifications on the Spanish Moroccan coast, His Majesty's Government do not consider that the position is such as to call for representations to the authorities in the Spanish zone. I may add that rumours as to the existence of German heavy guns at Ceuta have not been confirmed.

Has it not been proved that all these reports are silly fabrications?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the statement by Rear-Admiral Raeder that orders were given in the "Deutschland" to open fire upon approaching Spanish aeroplanes before those aeroplanes had committed any hostile act, he will invite the German Foreign Secretary to co-operate in vetoing such reprisals as those sanctioned by the German Government against Almeria until evidence upon events held to justify such reprisals has been heard?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the report of Admiral Raeder, showing that the order to fire upon the Spanish aircraft from the "Deutschland" was given before the latter actually bombed the ship, has been brought to the notice of the Non-Intervention Committee or taken into account in any discussions of this incident between the German Ambassador and himself?

I have seen what is stated to be an official German account of the incident in question based on reports from the Commander-in-Chief of the German Naval Forces in Spanish waters. According to this account the "Deutschland" was lying in the roadstead of Ibiza ready for action, but no shot was fired either by the "Deutschland" or the torpedo boat "Leopold" which was in company. As the House will be aware, the problem caused by the sequence of events which arose out of the attack on the "Deutschland" was closed by the agreement reached in London on 12th June when all relevant factors were under consideration. It is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to reopen this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will neither countenance nor co-operate in any reprisals in regard to such an incident as this until all the evidence, including that of the Spanish Government, has been heard?

That hardly arises out of this case.

Have not commanding officers of men-of-war a right to protect themselves against aerial or other attack, and to take such steps as they consider necessary in order to protect their ships?

I do not think anybody has ever disputed the right of immediate self-defence.

Is the right hon. Gentleman representing to the German Government that their reprisals at Almeria were a flagrant violation of the Kellogg Pact, to which Herr Hitler himself has said his country still adheres?

The hon. Member will recollect the statements which I made at the time. The incident is now closed, and I do not propose to reopen it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to continue his efforts to secure the withdrawal of foreign troops from Spain in face of the statement by the head of the Italian Government that the Italian casualties at Guadalajara must be avenged?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any recent request from General Franco for the recognition of belligerency; and whether, if so, he will make known the terms of the request?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the considerations which determine the attitude of His Majesty's Government to the request recently made to them that they should recognise the existence of a state of belligerency in Spain?

The attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the question of the recognition of belligerency in the Spanish dispute was explained to the House in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 19th April last. I have now received a communication from the Salamanca authorities containing a reasoned claim for recognition of belligerency. This communication is at present being examined.

Cannot recognition of belligerent rights be granted without in any way implying approval of the Nationalist rising, and would not correspondence between this country and General Franco be more satisfactorily conducted if we gave the ruler of 14,000,000 Spaniards full diplomatic recognition?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is certainly "Yes." Belligerent rights can be granted without thereby giving any approval, but this question is of such a complicated nature that I do not think we can debate it by question and answer.

May we take it that the Government will not change their point of view about according belligerent rights to General Franco without consulting the House of Commons?

Any decision of course which His Majesty's Government come to has to have the approval of this House, but I can inform the House that there is no immediate change contemplated.

Is it not a fact that on the occasion to which the right hon. Gentleman refers he stated that the steps taken by His Majesty's Government with other Governments in the execution of the policy of non-intervention had so far belligerent rights? Must not full weight be attached to the words "so far"?

Can the right hon. Gentleman present to the House any reasoned statement as to why he has refused belligerent rights to the democratically elected Government of Spain?

The hon. Lady is under a common misapprehension. Belligerent rights can only be granted to both sides.

On a point of Order. May I ask the Foreign Secretary whether he is presenting to the House a meaning of belligerent right entirely different from what is understood by a large number of people?

That is not a point of Order.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with a view to humanising the war in Spain, the Non-Intervention Committee will send observers to Bilbao to see that the occupation of the city by General Franco's forces is carried out with due regard to the principles of humanity.

Such evidence as has so far reached me through His Majesty's Ambassador at Hendaye is to the effect that the final occupation of Bilbao took place practically without bloodshed, and that the Basques who delivered up their arms were immediately set free, a small number of anarchists being held to be tried by tribunals. No question of action such as that suggested by the hon. Member therefore arises.

Is it not a fact that there was a good deal of blood shed before they got into Bilbao?

Is it not a fact that most of the population were killed?

Is it not also a fact that General Franco's troops were welcomed by enthusiasm and dancing on the part of the civil population as evidenced by photographs which have been published?

Can my right hon. Friend give a definition of humanised war?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the congratulatory messages sent to General Franco by the heads of the Italian and German Governments on the capture of Bilbao by the insurgent forces; and, seeing that such messages are inconsistent with membership of the Non-Intervention Committee and the purpose for which it was created, what action he intends to take in the matter?

I understand that statements to this effect have appeared in the Press, but the matter is not in any case one which would call for action by His Majesty's Government.

If such messages were sent, would not the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Non-Intervention Committee to such an inconsistency?

I do not think so. If people would observe the agreement apart from messages, I should be happier than I am.

Will my right hon. Friend also call attention to further messages sent by many Labour leaders to the defenders of Madrid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information concerning the origin of the 12-inch artillery with which General Franco has recently bombarded Bilbao?

No, Sir. I understand, however, that a number of 12-inch guns were supplied to the Spanish Government from this country some five or six years ago.

Is there not evidence available to the effect that shells fired from these guns were German and that, from the kind of shells, it was evident that the guns were German, too?

I thought the hon. Gentleman was worried about some British guns.

Will the Foreign Secretary make inquiries to assure himself that these were not Vickers guns which were in the possession of Spain, but were, in fact, German guns which must have been recently imported?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a decision has yet been taken by the Non-Intervention Committee regarding the scheme for the evacuation of foreign troops from Spain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on this subject to a question asked by him on Monday last and to a question asked by the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition yesterday.

Is it not a fact that the Italian and German Governments agreed in principle to this scheme more than two months ago?

No, I am afraid it is not true that they agreed to this scheme, which had not then been put forward.

I mean to the principle of evacuation, and since there is a scheme, can we not hope for early results?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have protested to the insurgent leaders in Spain against the laying of mines inside as well as outside the three-mile limit; and, if not, whether the failure to make such protest implies a recognition of the right of either party in the conflict to lay mines within this limit or a belief that neither has in fact done so?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. Sandys) on 7th June. I have nothing to add to that answer, except to state that General Franco's attention has been drawn to the terms of the rule laid down in Article 2 of the Hague Convention No. 8, which forbids the laying of mines off the coasts at ports of the enemy with the sole object of intercepting commercial navigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with regard to the alleged torpedo attack on the "Leipzig," in view of the recent Four Power Agreement?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement concerning the negotiations with regard to the alleged attack on the German warship "Leipzig"?

As the House will be already aware, at the meeting held yesterday afternoon to consider further the incidents in which the German cruiser "Leipzig" was involved, it was unfortunately found impossible to reach agreement on the measures which should be adopted in this case. The main point on which there was a difference of opinion was the question of making an immediate naval demonstration by the four Powers for the purpose of showing the flag off the coast of Valencia. On my instructions, His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin saw Baron von Neurath this morning when he was informed that the German Government regretted that it had not been possible to reach agreement, and that they therefore felt obliged to withdraw their ships altogether from the control system. Baron von Neurath said that this action was being taken with the specific intention of avoiding the possibility of an aggravation of the situation. Baron von Neurath added that the German Government would confine themselves to this action. His Majesty's Government gladly recognise and welcome the motives which inspire this assurance. I understand further that the German Government do not contemplate ceasing participation in the Non-Intervention Committee. The Italian Ambassador has since been to see me when he informed me that his Government had also decided to withdraw their ships from the control scheme.

In view of the fact that the withdrawal of the German and Italian Governments will seriously jeopardise the effectiveness of the control scheme, will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that steps will be taken to invite other Government to participate in place of those two Governments?

That is a question which will have to be considered. The House will appreciate the importance of the sentence in my answer which says that the German Government will confine themselves to this action.

What will be the effect of this on the policy of non-intervention as it was laid down and as it has been interpreted, as far as I know, by the British Government—whether the German and Italian Governments propose to stand by the Pact into which they entered with France and with ourselves not to send either troops or war materials to Spain? Does the action of the German Government affect that understanding and that actual Pact that was entered into?

As I understand the position, the statement is concerned solely with participation in the naval control scheme.

Will my right hon. Friend tell the House the exact nature of the naval demonstration proposed by the German Government?

I do not think that arises now.

Have the Government taken any steps to find out if there is any truth at all in this story about the "Leipzig"?

That does not arise in this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs particulars of the number of cases of which his office has records wherein His Majesty's representatives in various countries have approached the competent authorities, drawing their attention to films and plays thought to be detrimental to British interests; and in how many cases have excisions or modifications been secured in the offending films or plays?

On a number of occasions His Majesty's representatives have approached the competent authorities in different countries with the object of securing excisions or modifications in films and plays thought to be detrimental to British interests. There is no record of a case in which the action taken was unsuccessful.

Is it a fact that the majority of these films are foreign, and not British?

As we protested about them, they probably are.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the treaty recently made between Italy and Yugoslavia has been registered under the Secretariat of the League of Nations?

Not so far as I am aware.

Is not an obligation imposed on the Near Eastern Governments to register any international engagement with the secretariat of the League?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to call the attention of the head of the Italian Government to the prejudicial effect which such attacks upon our Press as appeared in the "Popolo d' Italia," on 17th June, are likely to have upon relations between the two countries?

His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome has already spoken to the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs in this sense.

May I ask whether such attacks as this and the grotesque statements which appeared in the Italian Press about the Coronation are not a violation of that clause of the Anglo-Italian Agreement which pledges both countries to do their best to maintain friendly relations?

I am afraid I should find a difficulty in proving that attacks of this kind are limited to the Press of any one country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps it is proposed to take in order to follow up the proposal of the Prime Minister of Australia regarding the conclusion of a regional understanding and pact of non-aggression by the countries of the Pacific?

The proposal in question was approved in principle by the Imperial Conference, which examined the various possibilities in detail and made suggestions for further action. The right hon. Gentleman will naturally appreciate that it will be necessary for this purpose to ascertain the views of other Governments on the subject, and His Majesty's Government will take suitable opportunities for consulting those primarily interested.

Would it not be advisable to take immediate steps to consult with Japan, the United States of America, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

I quite agree, but there is certain preliminary work which we must do ourselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the estimated populations of Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Belgium, respectively, for each of the years 1931 to 1936, inclusive; and whether he has any information as to the average number of persons unemployed in each of these countries for each of these years.

As the reply to the first part of the question contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the population statistics of Belgium for the period required, derived from the official census returns. With regard to the other countries named, I have no official information, but I will give the figures furnished in the "Stateman's Year Book." which may be taken as reasonably accurate. I have no information that would enable me to reply to the second part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether it was a Royal Air Force machine that flew over Westminster at 12.30 a.m. on the morning of Friday last; if so, for what reason it was necessary to disturb residents by practising aerobatics at that hour; and, in any event, whether he can take steps to see that the occurrence is not repeated?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that, on 17th–18th June after midnight, there was an almost continuous roar of engines from aeroplanes flying over Central London; and will he state the reason for so much flying after midnight?

It has been ascertained that no Royal Air Force aircraft was over Central London on the night in question, and I regret that, although careful inquiries have been made, it has not been found possible to identify the aircraft in question.

If this aeroplane did not belong to the Royal Air Force, to whom would it belong?

We have found it impossible to identify, the aircraft, and I should not like to speculate as to its identity.

Does this mean that the public are without protection against this kind of bad manners?

No. There are regulations against dangerous flying over urban areas, and the normal process of law can be applied in cases where undue risk is taken.

Is it permissible to fly over the Metropolis without leave?

Provided civil aircraft do not fly in a dangerous manner, there is no objection. In the case of military aircraft of foreign origin it could be done only after receiving permission from this Government, but we have absolutely no reason to believe that this aeroplane was a foreign aircraft of that character. Otherwise, provided they fly safely, there are no restrictions.

Is the Under-Secretary not prepared to issue an order that no aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Force shall fly over Central London after midnight? Is he aware that this House made it illegal for motor car horns to be sounded after 11.30, so that people should not be disturbed, and is not the noise from these aeroplanes immensely worse than the noise from cars?

Will the Under-Secretary also remember East London? No end of aeroplanes are flying over there at all hours of the night?

Is General Franco suspected in this matter?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air for what reason steps were taken to prevent Mr. J. O. Payne, who for about 18 months prior to February last was employed as a temporary surveying assistant in the land surveying section of the Air Ministry, from taking a more remunerative appointment offered to him, after the customary application, interview, and inquiries by the deputy-commander Royal Engineers, Hounslow; and whether it is the practice of the Air Ministry to prevent their temporary staff seeking employment in other Government Departments at higher salaries?

As regards the first part of the question, I am advised that the action taken by the Air Ministry in this case was confined to the communication of information respecting Mr. Payne's qualifications. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, although there are, of course, arrangements for ensuring consultation between Departments.

Is it not a fact that the correspondence between the parties discloses no justification whatever for the reply which has been given in regard to the qualifications of the man concerned, and that he was, in fact, actually appointed by Hounslow but was prevented from taking up the appointment in consequence of action taken by the Air Ministry?

Whether he was actually appointed by Hounslow is, of course, not a question for me, but one for the Secretary of State for War.

Is it not for the Air Ministry to give information as to action which they took which prevented this man from accepting more remunerative employment in another Government Department?

No. As my original answer indicated, there is necessarily consultation between the Departments on the qualifications of people who may be employed.