LABOUR ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 14, 16 July 1937, Page 10

LABOUR ATTACK

SCHEME FOR SPAIN

"SURRENDER TO FASCIST POWERS"

COMMONS DEBATE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. (Received July 16, 2.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. In the course of a debate on the adjournment in the House of Commons, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, declared that the Government's non-intervention proposals were ill-conceived and dangerous and would only produce another of those cases in which, under pretence of making non-intervention effective, General Franco had been given an advantage. The Foreign Secretary, in attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable, had only surrendered to the demands of the Fascist Powers.

Mr. Attlee contended that the nonintervention restrictions had alway9 been rigorously enforced against the Spanish Government, including munitions, of which Italy had piled in quantities to General Franco, while similarly Signor Mussolini poured in masses of volunteers. Only the action of the House of Commons had prevented Britain blockading Bilbao on General Franco's behalf. The proposal to grant General Franco belligerent rights was made in order to please Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini. Mr. Attlee added that both dictator* were laughing at Britain. RISKS OF CONFLAGRATIOiN. In replying, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, said that the Labour members' attitude merely did disservice to their own cause, and, what was far more serious, to peace. He added that information from abroad did not support Mr. Atllee's contention that tha proposals would be ineffective. Not a. single nation in Europe wanted nonintervention to break down, as ths risks of resultant conflagration inj evitably would be increased.