Minutes

              SPANISH MEDICAL AID COMMITTEE
Minutes of meeting held on April 26th 1939 at 69 Great Russell Street.
Present: Dr. Morgan (Chairman), Professor J.R. Marrack, Mr. C.H. Norman, Mrs. L. Manning, Mr. R. Calder, Dr. J.A. Gillison, Mr. G. Jeger.
Apologies were received from Dr. S.W. Jeger, Mr. Coyne, and Lord Faringdon, who were unable to be present.
1) Minutes of meeting held on April 19th were confirmed and signed.
2) Matters arising:-
a) The five vehicles had been offered to various organisations but owing to the difficulties regarding the use of British vehicles in France and the lack of facilities for entry into the camps no body was prepared to accept them. The C.S.I. advised us to bring them back to England and dispose of them here.     They themselves had several vehicles rescued from Spain which they were unable to use. Meanwhile the Lulca had arrived at Marseilles with the vehicles and in view of the fact that they formed the entire cargo, we were being asked to pay the harbour dues etc., amounting to about 19000 francs.
After considerable discussion if was decided that Professor Marrack should endeavour to arrange for the China Medical Committee to take them over, or for their sale to the Chinese Government at a reasonable price. (£500 was mentioned). In the meantime the harbour dues etc., should be paid and the vehicles landed and warehoused in Marseilles, and Dr. Morgan, Professor Marrack and Mr. Jeger were empowered to dispose of them to the best advantage. Not less than £550.
b) Advice had been received from the Foreign Office that Nurse Addy was safe in Valencia and intended returning to this country as soon as she could obtain the necessary safe conduct from the Spanish authorities.
c) Mrs. Manning stated that she had seen a letter from Dr. Quemada to Miss Davson,  in which he did not welcome the idea of going anywhere but to a British Dominion or colony.   The Organising Secretary had also received a letter in which Dr. Quemada stated that he was considering the matter, and would be writing about it in a few days.   It was decided to defer the matter until the arrival of this letter.
d) The British Committee for refugees from Spain had accepted our offer to look after the medical cases amongst the refugees. No definite arrangements had yet been made regarding the refugee ships to Mexico, but our offer of assistance had been noted.
Our request that Dr. Morgan should be an additional representative will be dealt with at their next meeting.
Mrs. Manning mentioned that she was not getting notices of their meetings.     It was agreed that this be mentioned to the Refugee Committee.
e) The Organising Secretary had written to the British Red Cross asking for a report on their activities amongst the refugees, but no reply had been received.     He had also suggested to Lord Faringdon that the matter be raised in the press and had received a message that he (Lord Faringdon) would be speaking privately to Lord Halifax about it, as he considered this a better plan.