UNITED PROTEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1938, Page 7

UNITED PROTEST

AGAINST BOMBING OF BRITISH SHIPS Debate Forced in House of Commons CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT’S POLICY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 23. A debate on the adjournment of the House of Commons on the subject of further attacks on British ships in Spanish waters resulted from an answer by the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) to a private notice question from Mr D. Sandys (Conservative). Mr Chamberlain, after outlining the attacks on the Thorpe Ness and the Sunion, said the Government was asking Burgos for an early explanation of these attacks. Mr Sandys then asked: “Does the Premier realise that the failure of Britain to offer any resistance to these unlawful acts of violence is an encouragement to lawbreakers, not only in Spain, but all over the world?” Mr Chamberlain replied: “The policy and position of Britain have been fully explained.” Major C. R. Attlee and Mr Lloyd George joined in supplementary questions, and finally Major Attlee announced that he would move the adjournment. ISSUE FORCED. BY MEMBERS OF ALL PARTIES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 23. After a scene in the House of Commons, the Speaker granted leave to the House to debate tonight the bombing of ships in Spain. It is significant that the issue was forced by the Conservatives, Mr D. Sandys and Captain Sir W. Brass, supported by Mr Lloyd George and the whole of the Labour members. GETTING THE FACTS. MR CHAMBERLAIN RECEIVES SEA CAPTAINS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 23. Two sea captains, Messrs Llewellyn and Jones, whose ships were among those which have been attacked by aeroplanes operating in favour of General Franco, were received by Mr Chamberlain in his room at the House of Commons immediately after the end of the questions period. The British destroyer Isis is conveying the crews of the Thorpe in ess and Sunion to Marseilles. Confirmation has been received in London of the African Trader incident. The destroyer Imogen escorted the African Trader towards Gibra Replying in the House of Commons to a question regarding the visit of the Italian First Squadron to Malta, Mr R. A. Butler (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) said that in April, 1937, the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean paid an official visit to Spezia, and this visit was now being returned by the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian First Squadron. An earlier message from Valencia read:—“An insurgent warplane circled over the British merchantman African Trader, on the east coast of Spain and ordered her by wireless to go to Palma. The captain sent ou an S.O.S. and the British destroyer Imogen raced to protect the ship, is reported that the same plane sank a British ship believed to be the Gloxinia, five miles from Valencia.