The Indian statesman arrived here today from Barcelona, where he had conferred with the Republican President, Sr, Manuel Azana, and Sr. Gulio Alvarez del Vayo, the Republican Foreign Minister.
"We are becoming more and more of the opinion that the situation of Our country is bound to that of the entire world, and that the strength of our movement depends upon the strength of all progressive movements," he said.
He recalled that the National Indian Congress had favoured Ethiopia's cause although it could have sought to weaken British Imperialism by a contrary attitude, and stressed that India held similar views with regard to Republican Spain.
In conclusion, Pandit Nehru recalled that the Indians had always fought by peaceful methods.
The Indian statesman is to leave for London shortly, and is to visit several European countries, including Czechoslovakia.—Havas.
In opening the debate on foreign affairs, Mr, Noel-Baker had accused the Government of failure to take action to protect British shipping, such as its predecessors had taken at the time of the Metropolitan Vickers case. He declared that the reason for this was the present Government's sympathy with General Franco, the Nationalist leader.
The Labour member replied to suggestions, "which had sometimes been made by back-bench supporters of the Government, that ships, subject to attack, had no right to the protection of the British flag and that they were trading with ports in Government Spain, despite the known risks, only for the purpose of reaping enormous profits."
He estimated the value of British exports to Republican Spain, in the last six months at £2,500,000, apart from considerable imports of wheat from Australia, In conclusion, Mr. Noel-Baker declared that it was a case where the Government seemed incapable of making a stand against the demands of dictator states, and, he contended, U.S. Said Concerned at
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.