ARE NOT VALID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 11

ARE NOT VALID.

NURSES' PASSPORTS.

MAY BE TURNED BACK.

MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. There is every probability that the three nurses who left Xew Zealand recently for Spain will be turned back 0 n arrival at their intended destination, according $0 a statement made by the [Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. \V. E. Parry, who pointed out that their passports were not valid for Spain. Mr. Tarry added that the action taken by the Department of Internal i Affairs was entirely in the interests of I the nurses themselves. From information in the possession of the Govern-1 ment it was quite clear that they would j not be permitted to leave any territory of the jrreat Powers concerned in order to enable them to tranship for Spain. The three nurises were Sister K. M. Shadbolt, Nurse B. Sharpies and Nurse I. Dodds. "The three young ladies were granted in the ordinary way passports to travel to Spain." said Mr. Parry. "Then came a dispatch from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs about passport facilities to persons desiring to travel to Spain or the Spanish zone of Morocco. It was stated that as a result of the recent extension of the international agreement regarding non-intervention in Spain to cover the dispatch of volunteers to Spain it liad been decided that passports should not be issued to British subjects for Spain or the Spanish zone of Morocco unless such persons fell within the certain categories. Foreign Office Circular. "Those, categories were:—(a) Persons able to show they have urgent business reasons for visiting Spain or Spanish Morocco and persons returning to Spain or Spanish Morocco to resume employment there, together with members of their families. (b) Journalists representing reputable papers, (c) Persons travelling under the auspices of the following humanitarian organisations: General Belief Fund for Distressed Women and Children in Spain, National .Joint Committee for Spanish Relief. British Red Cross. International Red Cross. Save the Children Fnnd Society of Friends, Spanish Medica] Aid." The Minister said that a Foreigr Office circular with the dispatch added that applicant* would be required to satisfy the passport authorities as far as possible that they came within one of the mentioned categories and had no intention of enlisting with the Spanish forces. All other applications for passport facilities should be either refused or referred to the Foreign Office for instructions. If an applicant was in a position to satisfy the conditions required, it was stated, the passports should be endorsed, "valid for single journey to Spain (or the Spanish zone of Morocco)" and the purpose of the journey added. Time Was Short. On Monday, May 17, Mr. Parry continued, the Department of Internal Affairs learned from the newspapers that the three nurses were in Auckland . and that they "were leaving by the Awatea on the following Wednesday. As time was short and as it was essential that they should be notified before their departure that the pass-ports in their possession were not • yalid™ ,-tpr Spain the Department sent ft ; communication to the superintendent of police at Auckland requesting that they be interviewed and that they state to which, if any, of the approved organisations they were proceeding. It was requested that they should be instructed to present their passports for appropriate endorsement at the passport office at Auckland. At the same time it was asked that the- nurses be warned that they were travelling at their own risk and that His Majesty's Government could not be responsible for their protection. Subsequently certificates were furnished to the effect that thev were joining the Spanish Medical Aid. Their passports were thereupon endorsed as follows: "Valid for single journey to Spain under the auspices of the Spanish Medical Aid Committee."