NON-INTERVENTION SEQUEL

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 22

NON-INTERVENTION SEQUEL

FOREIGN VISITORS TO ENGLAND BARRED QUESTIONS IH COMMONS SPANISH RELIEF COMMITTEE. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 12. The ‘ Daily Chronicle’s ’ political correspondent says a number of distinguished foreign politicians, including the French Liberal, M. Vasch, and Belgian deputy, Mile Blum (president of the women’s section of the Belgian Labour Party), who were scheduled to speak before the Spanish Relief Committee at the Quakers’ headquarters, London, were stopped at Dover and warned to leave Britain within 24 hours. Mile Blum was told that if she attended the committee meeting on Spanish relief she would not be allowed to return to England. The Home Office explains that non-in-tervention made the steps necessary, but Labour members suggested in the House of Commons that the real reason was panic-fear of Communism. • It is pointed out that the Relief Committee does not consist of Communists, but of people like Viscount Churchill,- Sir Norman Angell, and M. Jouhaux (president of the French trade unions). When the House of Commons assembled the Government promised to withdraw the baa on Mile Blum, and the news was immediately communicated to her. Mr Lloyd objected to the running fire of questions from all sides of the House. Mr Attlee raised an issue of principle, demanding what regulations enabled- the officials to exclude distinguished visitors of all varieties of political opinion without the House of Commons’ knowledge. ' f Other members of the House pointed to a purpose of the meeting, which was solely concerned with the provision •of food and supplies and the care of child refugees. -