asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government is now prepared to reconsider its decision and to allow the export of anti-aircraft guns to Spain, in view of the report of the British Commission of Investigation that the Nationalist forces made deliberate attacks on civilian areas in Alicante and that in a raid on Barcelona on 19th August no military objectives, including factories and store depots, were located in the area?

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 15th June to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson) in which it was made clear that a decision to allow the export of anti-aircraft guns to Spain did not rest with His Majesty's Government alone, and that there was little prospect of obtaining general acceptance by the members of the Non-Intervention Committee of any such proposal.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the resolution of the Assembly of the League of Nations on 30th September, 1937, to the effect that if the complete withdrawal of non-Spanish combatants from Spain were not obtained in the near future the members of the League would consider ending the policy of non-intervention, and in view of the failure a year later to secure such results, His Majesty's Government will reconsider their policy of non-intervention?

No resolution in the terms referred to was adopted by the assembly. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the report of the Commission appointed by His Majesty's Government to investigate air-raids in Spain, that the raid on 25th August on the railway station, salt factories, etc., of Torrevieja was not carried out under any misapprehension that there were military objectives, and the subsequent raid on 5th September, His Majesty's Government will reconsider their decision regarding the export of anti-aircraft guns to Spain as part of their policy of mitigating the horrors of the war?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Cumberland, North (Mr. W. Roberts) to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister when the terms of the right of option under Article 7 of the Munich Agreement will be made known; how a decision is made in case of disagreement between the German and Czech Commissioners; and whether there is any provision as to compensation in connection with the option?

As regards the first part of the question, the details of the option will no doubt be made known as soon as they have been determined by the German-Czechoslovak Commission to be set up under Article 7 of the Munich Agreement.As regards the second part, any disagreement between the German and Czech Commissioners could be referred to the International Commission under the terms of the supplementary declaration to the Munich Agreement.As regards the last part, it is open to the German-Czechoslovak Commission to consider the question of compensation under Article 7 of the Munich Agreement.

asked the Prime Minister what is the nature of the British guarantee of the new frontiers of Czechoslovakia; when will it become operative; and whether Russia will be asked to subscribe to it?

As regards the first and last parts of the question, my Noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, made the following statement in another place on 3rd October:

"The other matter on which I must speak is the guarantee referred to in the annex to the Munich Agreement and which found a place in the Anglo-French proposals on 19th September. There we said that His Majesty's Government would be prepared as a contribution to the pacification of Europe to join in an international guarantee of the new boundaries of Czechoslovakia against any unprovoked aggression. One of the principal parts of such a guarantee would be the safeguarding of the independence of Czechoslovakia by the substitution of a joint guarantee against unprovoked aggression in place of the existing treaties involving reciprocal obligations of a military character. … There are of course a great many questions connected with this guarantee that will require more careful consideration than it has yet been possible to give them. Such will be whether these forms should be joined up further, what States should be invited to assume those obligations, and the circumstances in which these obligations should be held to arise. These matters and possible others will be matters for an early exchange of views between the several Governments concerned."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in view of the recent massacre of unarmed Jews by Arabs in Palestine, the Government proposes to take immediate stronger action to restore order?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the general statement which I made to the House yesterday, arising out of a question addressed to me by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

asked the Home Secretary whether instructions have been given to all local authorities that work undertaken in connection with air-raid precautions preparations be carried out by unemployed men and paid for at trade union rates of wages?

In the recent circular letter which authorised local authorities at once to start the digging of trenches, it was suggested that the help of the Employment Exchanges should be sought in providing labour: and I have no reason to suppose that local authorities departed from their usual practice of engaging when necessary suitable unemployed labour through the Employment Exchanges and, in the case of work put out to contract, including a fair wages clause in the conditions of employment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that when Mr. W. I. B. Peters, a British-born negro seaman, returned to Newcastle on 29th August, on steamship "Widestone," after a voyage from Cardiff, the shipping master at Newcastle made him report before being paid off to the immigration officer, who detained him for four days at his own expense and made him pay for a reply-paid telegram to his home in Treorchy to prove his identity; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this treatment of a British subject and grant compensation?

To prevent additions to the number of alien seamen in this country, it is the duty of the immigration officer when a ship arrives here from a foreign port to prevent the discharge in this country of any members of the crew who are aliens and not already resident here. The "Widestone," after calling at Spitzbergen, arrived at Newcastle on 28th August. Out of a crew of 20, one man was unable to produce any documentary evidence of nationality or identity, and the immigration officer was unable to authorise his discharge until the position had been cleared up. As the man said he was known to the police at Cardiff, the immigration officer suggested that he should telegraph to them. The police were unable at first to identify him and it was not until 1st September that information was forthcoming. Meanwhile the seaman was permitted to reside on shore, and at no time was he detained in custody.I regret any inconvenience which was caused to Mr. Peters, but the immigration officer was acting in accordance with the provisions of the Aliens Order, and no ground for compensation arises.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the representations from coloured seamen of British nationality in the port of Hull, alleging discrimination by the Shipping Federation master against them in the matter of employment; and whether he will cause these allegations to be enquired into, with a view to allaying the discontent arising from such suspicions?

I have received no representations of the kind indicated in the hon. Member's question. In May of this year, one man at Hull complained of difficulty in obtaining employment; I find that he received employment in his turn under the customary arrangements for the selection for employment of coloured seamen at this and certain other ports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any later reports showing the effect on the export of British textiles of the hostilities in the Far East; and whether any steps can be taken to reduce the serious prejudice to international trade caused by those hostilities?

Such information as is available goes to show that while the export of United Kingdom cotton goods to the Far East has undergone only a small decline, exports of woollen and worsted yarns and manufactures have suffered a serious setback. His Majesty's Government will use any opportunity of taking such steps as may be within their power towards the object which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind.