SPAIN & CHINA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1938, Page 8

SPAIN & CHINA

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ALLEGATIONS OF RUSSIAN INTERVENTION. INCIDENTS IN SHANGHAI. (British Official Wireless.) (Reed This Day, 11.8 a.m.) RUGBY, Mayj.9. Spain and China figured largely in the House of Commons at question time. Asked if he were aware that branches of the Russian Cheka for a considerable time had been in effective control, not only in Barcelona and Valencia Government courts and prisons, but among international and Republican troops on the Government side in Spain Mr R. A. Butler (Foreign Under-Secretary) said information in his possession did not confirm the statements in question. The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) was asked if he were aware of the recent declaration of policy by the Spanish Premier (Senor Negrin) and if the Government would seek to secure peace in Spain on the basis of such terms.

Mr Chamberlain said he had seen the declaration, and, regarding the second part of the question, the Government was prepared at any time at the request of either of the contending parties, to lend its offices with a view to securing an agreement for a settlement of the conflict. It was not in ac cordance with the Government’s polic-,’ to impose a settlement i>n either side.

The Far Eastern situation was also raised by a member who enquired what steps had been taken by the Government to prevent a repetition of the recent incidents in Shanghai between Japanese troops and members of his Majesty’s armed forces. Mr Butler replied that incidents were always liable to occur in circumstances such as those existing in Shanghai, but the Government was doing all in its power, by negotiation and remonstrance, to avoid a recurrence of such incidents.