Circular

              NATIONAL JOINT COMMITTEE FOR SPANISH RELIEF
CHAIRMAN: THE DUCHESS OF ATHOLL, D.B.E., D.C.L.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: THE EARL OF LISTOWEL
MISS ELEANOR RATHBONE, M.P.
HON. SECRETARIES:
Mr. D.R. GRENFELL, M.P.
LT.-COL. J.R.J. MACNAMARA, M.P.
Mr. WILFRID ROBERTS, M.P.
HON. TREASURER: VISCOUNT CECIL OF CHELWOOD, P.C. K.C.
ORGANISING SECRETARY: DR. BETTY MORGAN.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY: FELICE CLARK.
30, ECCLESTON STREET,
LONDON, S.W.1.
TELEPHONE: SLOANE 9866
27th October, 1939.
Dear Secretary and Friend;
At a joint meeting held last week of the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief, the British Committee for Refugees from Spain, and the Basque Children's Committee, a full review was made of the situation as it now stands.
Since the outbreak of war there has been great difficulty in obtaining information about the position of Spanish Refugees in France. First reports are however now coming in, and although these are still necessarily incomplete, they point clearly to the great need for continued assistance for the 100,000 men, women and children who are still on French soil and whose condition has been made more desperate by the outbreak of a new European War.
The enclosed copy of a report, together with a balance sheet and appeal letter from Mr. Wilfrid Roberts, M.P., is being sent out to individual subscribers on our national lists and also to all Spanish Relief Committees. You will see that we have found it necessary in this appeal to stress our existing commitments, but we should like such a response to the appeal that we may be able to consider extending our efforts to France.
Will you help us by making the facts mentioned in the appeal letter and report as widely known as possible? Copies of the report, at £1 per 1,000, can be supplied on credit to committees who wish to use them as part of their local appeal.
May we also appeal once more for offers of private hospitality for the Basque Children? The attached note, showing the pathetic list of categories who cannot be repatriated, speaks for itself, and we know that many of our supporters will want to help these unfortunate children who are now faced for the second time with the horrors of modern warfare.
You will notice that in order to meet our present commitments a minimum of £400 per week must be raised. The first letters being received in response to our appeal encourage us to believe that notwithstanding the many calls being made upon members of Spanish Aid Committees under existing war conditions, they will rally to our support at this extremely difficult time, so that we may not fail our Spanish friends who look so urgently to us for help.
Yours sincerely,
Betty Morgan
Organizing Secretary.