At the outset of his speech, Mr. Eden reviewed the events leading up to the non-intervention agreement, analyzing its effects on the contending parties and answering criticisms of iis working.
Ho. denied the rumours that the French Government initiated the non-Intervention pact under strong British pressure.
'The French Government, he declared, took the initiative in' its own account, and, in doing so, in the view of H, M, Government, it render material service to European pet 'Would anyone deny that the polley of intervention wag one most" likely fo keep peace' in Europe, he asked. Tt was that single issue with which the House had.to deal.
The Foreign Secretary said know It was Popularly claimed that Furthermore, previous to the agreement, there was no dispute" anywhere but arms had been going to the Nationalists in very large quantlles from more than one. quarter. The main sources from which either side might have obtained arms were Moly, Germany, France, Russia and (Great Britain.
Russia, Taly and Germany, the Foreign ' Secretary proceeded, had, for a long time, been turning out great quantities of armaments, and It would have been for them no dif. cult task to supply whichever si they favoured with arms with cot siderable rapidity.
'Geographically, however, aly was joxtremely well' placed, and. "much better placed than Russia, to make these supplies.
"As for Great Britain, the requirements of her defence programme were such that, even in the absence fof non-Intervention, supplies from British sources could have had no) important bearing on the result.
"He could not speak for France, Mr. Eden proceeded, but it did not require much imagination to realize her difficulties if asked for supplies of arms at a moment of tension in the Buropean situation, He asked members who might have reached an opinion that the agree-[ment Was working entirely to the disadvantage "of the—government forees in Spain to. reconsider the matter, "bearing his- arguments in mind. 7 2
Soviet Attitude Critietzea Turning "t6 the' working of the agreement and the" international'com-touch with the French Government. He expressed the "hope that our decisions will be taken together os two democratic governments who have, an especially responsible role to Tribute to HM. Navy Mr, Eden paid a tribute to the' British Navy, which had evacuated 16000 refugees, of whom 2,000 were /Britons, and had received very warm thanks from many foreign governments, Following the address, Mr. Arthur: Greenwood, Labour member for Wakefield, and Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader, both demanded to know what was happening in the Balearic Islands, where the Italians were said to be securing control.
Mr. Greenwood asserted that Gibral-for was smiling on the Spanish Poseists and rebuting the loyalists, Sir Archibald declared that Spanish Fascists could not have succeeded without Italian assistance, which must have been arranged beforehand.
"Arguing in favour of a continuance lof the non-intervention pact, he said that for every gun France of Britain might supply Italy and Germany might supply Atty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.