FOREIGNERS IN SPAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 147, 23 June 1937, Page 11

FOREIGNERS IN SPAIN

CAUSE OF TROUBLE

OFFER BY BRITAIN

HASTENING WITHDRAWAL

(British Official Wireless.) (Received June 23, 11.20 a.m.)

RUGBY, June 22,

In a statement at House of Commons question time, the Foreign Secretary recalled Lord Plymouth's observations at yesterday's meeting of the i ~n-in-tervention Committee to the effect that his Majesty's Government was most dissatisfied at the present state of affairs, which in its view could not be allowed to continue if the existence of the Non-intervention Committee was to be justified.

"In the view of his Majesty's Government," said Mr. Eden, "the principal cause of the present unsatisfactory state of affairs is: the presence of non-Spanish nationals in Spain. As the House'is aware, the Committee has before it a report which provides- a plan for the withdrawal of these foreigners. But inevitably some time must elapse before such plan can be put into effect. His Majesty's Government has therefore offered to place its services at the disposal of the Committee in order to facilitate and to hasten early withdrawals of foreign combatants which they desire should take place without further delay. "I am not able at present to give further details of these proposals, which are under consideration by the Governments which are parties to the agreement. NO NAVAL DEMONSTRATION. The Foreign Secretary also referred to the four-Power discussions on the cruiser Leipzig incident, and the Leader of the Opposition questioned him on rumours regarding proposals for a joint naval demonstration. Mr. Eden thanked Mr. Attlee for raising this point and said, "I can, say definitely that his Majesty's Government has no intention of joining in a naval demonstration off Valencia." Mr. Attlee then urged that the Nonintervention Agreement had broken down and suggested reference of the Spanish situation to the - League of Nations. Mr. j£den said: "It is clear that the agreement is not working as we should wish it to work, but this is an agreament to which every nation in Europe has, put its'name, and consequently we have gravely to consider the position which confronts us."