SPANISH HOSTAGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 9

SPANISH HOSTAGES

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

DETAILS OF EXCHANGE

(British Official Wireless.) (Received October 23, 11.55 a.m.) , RUGBY, October 22. Details have now been received of the exchange of women and childi'en hostages which Dr. Junod, of the International Red Cross, arranged between the authorities of Burgos and the newly established Basque administration at Bilbao. On October 11 114 women hostages were evacuted from Bilbao to St. Jean de Luz by H.M.S. Exmouth and Esk. Dr. Junod , was assisted in this work by Mr. Stevenson, British Consul, Mr. Innes, Vice-Consul, and Captain Burrough, R.N. The women refugees displayed the utmost gratitude for the part played by the British Navy, and on being taken aboard the warships loudly cheered King Edward VIII. On October 17 H.M.S. Esk embarked 41 children and five nurses at San Sebastian, and before their departure each child was given a gift by the local Mayor at. the Red Cross institution. When they were landed at Bilbao they were received by cheering crowds and were given a civic welcome arranged by the Mayor and the Consular Corps. Dr. Junod left Bilbao in H.M.S. Escort on Saturday for Si. Jean de Luz with a further batch of, 100 refugees. The local Red Cross authorities have sent a message of thanks for the help given by his Majesty's ships. ■ . ' APPEAL FOE AGREEMENT: The appeal of the British Government for an agreement between the contending parties in- the civil war for an exchange of hostages has been conveyed to both sides. Mr. OgilvieForbes, British Charge D'Affaires in Madrid, has communicated the contents of the Foreign Secretary's telegram of October 20 to the Minister of State, Senor del Vayb. The British Ambassador, Sir Henry. Chilton, has been in touch with the Marquis Merry del' Val, representative of the junta at Hendaye and former Spanish Ambassador in- London, who has undertaken to bring the matter urgently to the attention of General Franco and his associates.