NO BLOCKADE AT BILBAO

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 5

NO BLOCKADE AT BILBAO

Belief Of British Consul

DISSATISFACTION IN COMMONS

OPPOSITION MAKES RARE MOVE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 20, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. The Bilbao correspondent of The Times says that full details of the defences of Bilbao for commercial shipping within territorial waters have been supplied to the British Consul (Mr Stevenson) and the Vice-Consul (Mr Innes). The details show that five batteries of heavy artillery are emplaced on either side of the mouth of the Nervion river, and survey aeroplanes reconnoitre for ships entering or leaving.

Complete freedom from mines in or outside territorial waters is ensured at night by searchlights on the patrol boats. Sixteen mine sweepers are operating every day and these measures have prevented mine-laying since January 17. The Basque Government guarantees the safety of British shipping within its waters. s - Besides the Thorpe Hall two British merchantmen have arrived at the “blockaded” port of Gijon in the past three days. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), the President of the Board of Trade (Mr Walter Runciman) and the First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir Samuel Hoare) were all questioned in the House of Commons about the situation arising from the Spanish rebels’ effort to blockade the Basque ports. At the end of Sir Samuel Hoare’s. replies the Leader of the Opposition (Major C. R. Atlee) expressed dissatisfaction and gave notice that he would raise the subject on an adjournment tomorrow. Unusual Procedure The moving- of an adjournment bn any other question on the day of the Budget is a most unusual procedure. The most important of the statements made in the First Lord’s replies was that reports received from the Vice-Admiral Commanding the Battle Cruiser Squadron in H.M.S. Hood (Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Blake), read together with reports received from the other authorities concerned, had confirmed the view that the insurgents had established an effective de facto blockade of Bilbao. Sir Samuel also said that up to about a month ago reports showed that the Spanish authorities had attempted to maintain a stvept channel through the mine fields into Bilbao, but he was unable to say whether they had in fact found it possible to continue this operation in the face of superior rebel forces. Mr Eden in reply to a question said that General Franco’s warning of blockade had nothing to do with the decision taken by the Government. He also informed the House that the French Government had been kept fully informed of the British attitude, and he had no reason to suppose that on the broad lines of policy the French Government disagreed. The French had advised him that they would not allow interference with French ships on the high seas and that a local situation would not arise with them as they had no ships going to Bilbao. Mr Runciman said that four British vessels had left Bilbao in the past week, and the First Lord added that as far as he was aware no attempt was being made by the insurgents to . prevent the departure of ships from Bilbao. VICE-ADMIRAL BLAKE EMBARKS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 19. Vice-Admiral Geoffrey Blake, Commanding the Battle Cruiser Squadron, embarked in H.M.S. Hood at La Rochelle (France) on his return from Hendaye, where he has been in consultation with the British Ambassador to Spam (Sir Henry Chilton).