DEMAND BY LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 14, 16 July 1937, Page 9

DEMAND BY LABOUR

DEBATE IN COMMONS

QUESTION OF BELLIGERENT RIGHTS

I (Jiritish OlJlcial Wireless.) (Received July 16, 11.45 a.m.) HUGBY, July 15. The proposal in the British plan that recognition of the belligerent rights of the two parties in Spain should become effective "when the Non-inter-vention Committee places on record its opinion that arrangements for with- j drawing foreign nationals are working satisfactorily and that this withdrawal has in fact made substantial progress," does not please tiie Labour Opposition in Britain, members of which hold that the withdrawal oi>- foreign nationals should be completed before belligerent rights are accorded.

In the House of Commons today the Opposition Leader. Mr. C. It. Attlee, asked the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, whether he would withdraw at tomorrow's meeting this "proposal for recognition of General Franco until after the complete withdrawal of foreign nationals has shown whether or not he enjoys the support of any substantial part of the Spanish people"

In reply, Mr Eden reminded Mr. Attlee of the circumstances in which the British Government was entrusted with an international mandate to seek, a solution of the present difficulties. and said there could be no question of any modification of proposals submitted at the Committee's direct request and which the Committee itself had not yet considered. Ho was sure the House would not wish to jeopardise in advance the cause of international appeasement which the proposals had been designed to further.

This reply prompted Mr Attlee to move for a debate on the subject of "the declared intention of the Government to make to the Non-intervention Commilteo proposals which contemplate the granting of belligerent rights

to General Franco and which do not make effective provision for the complete cessation of foreign intervention in Spain."

The Speaker asked if Mr. Attlee had the support of" the House, and the Labour members rose in a body to signify their assent, whereupon leave was granted.