PASSPORTS FOR SPAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 8

PASSPORTS FOR SPAIN

NEW ZEALAND NURSES POLICE INTERVIEWS EXPLAINED STATEMENT BY MINISTER [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, May 30. What led tu tne interrogation by the police of the three New Zealand nurses wno desired passports to proceed to Spain tor nursing service, was explained oy the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) in an interview at the week-ena. It was in consequence of a dispaten received Irom the secretary or Blate lor Dominion Affairs, wr Malcoim MacDonald that action was taxen wmen was considered to be entirely in tne interests of tne nurses tnemselves. •*£hree young ladies were granted, in the ordinary way, passports to travel to bpain,” said Mr rarry. • ’inen came a uispatcn nom the secretary of slate iur uomimun Affairs about passport xacilities to persons uesinng to travel to Spain, or tne Spanish zune of morocco, n. stated uul as a result ot tne recent extension ot tlie international agreement regarding non-intervention in spain, to cover the dispatch ot voiuiiuecia to Spain, it hau oeen decided that passports snouid not oe issued to Bluish subjects bound lor Spain, or tne Spanish zone of Morocco, umess suca persons ieil witnni tne lonowing categories:—ta) persons aoie to snow mat they have urgent ousineos reasons tor visiting opam, or spamsn Morocco, anu persons returning io Spain, or Spamsn Morocco, to resume employment tntre, together wiui members ot their tamiues; tb) journalists representing reputaole papers, it) persons travelling unuer tne auspices of the iollowiiig humanitarian organisations: uenerai Belief runu for Distressed Women and cnildren in Epain, National Joint committee tor Spanish Heliet, British Bed cross, international Red Cross, Save the Children Fund Society of Friends, Spamsn Medical Aid.” On Monday, May 17, Mr Party said, it was gleaned by the Department of Internal Anairs from the newspapers, that three nurses were in Auckland and were leaving tne following Wednesday. As time was short, and as it was essential that they be notified before departure that the passports in their possession were not valid for Spam, tne department sent a communication to the Superintendent of Police in Auckland requesting that they be interviewed, and that they state to which, if any, of the approved organisations they were proceeding. It was requested that they should be instructed to present their passports for appropriate endorsement at the passport office in Auckland, and at the same time it was asked that the nurses be warned that they were travelling at their own risk, and that His Majesty’s Government could not be responsible for their protection subsequently. Certificates were furnished to the effect that they were joining the Spanish Medical Aid, and their passports were thereupon endorsed as follows: °Valid for a single journey to Spain under the auspices of the Spanish Medical Aid Committee.”