Bulletin. No. 7

              NATIONAL JOINT COMMITTEE FOR SPANISH RELIEF
Chairman: The Duchess of Atholl, M.P. 
Vice-Chairmen: The Earl of Listowel, Miss Eleanor Rathbone. M.P. 
Hon. Secretaries: Mr. D.R. Grenfell. M P., Capt. J.R.J. Macnamara. M.P., Mr. Wilfrid Roberts, M P.,
35, Marsham Street, S.W.1. Telephone: Victoria 2168 
Organising Secretary: Mrs. Mary M. Miller.
Co-operating Societies: The Service Council of The Society of Friends, The Save the Children Fund. The Spanish Medical Aid Committee, The Scottish Ambulance Unit. The Spanish Women's Committee for Help to Spain, The Women's Committee against War and Fascism, The Spanish Youth Foodship Committee, The Southern Spanish Relief Committee.
Bulletin No. 7.  10th June, 1937.
We must apologise for the delay in the appearance of Bulletin Number 7. We feel sure that our readers will appreciate that the staff of the National Joint Committee has been overwhelmed with work during the past month in making arrangements to receive and maintain the Basque children in this country. The office has now been moved to larger promises in the same street (No. 53) and the staff has been considerably enlarged, so we hope that in future Bulletins will appear with less irregularity.
BASQUE CHILDREN'S COMMITTEE
The initiative in evacuating the refugee children from Bilbao to this country was taken by our Committee, which secured the provisional approval of the Home Office. Many offers of assistance were received from numerous other organisations, including the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, the Trades Union Congress, and the Salvation Army. It was, therefore, considered better that the work should be carried out by a new Committee, specially constituted for the purpose of caring for the children in England to be known as the Basque Children's Committee. This Committee has subsequently been joined by the Friends Service Council and the Save the Children Fund. Appeals to the public are being made both individually by the co-operating societies and jointly. The public have responded magnificently but the responsibility of these 4,000  children is a very heavy one and we estimate that the cost of maintenance will be at least £2,000 a week. We would like to urge the need for raising more money, especially now, when the arrival of the children is still fresh in the public mind. Gifts of clothing, toys, etc., should be sent to a house adjoining the Office, 51, Marsham Street, whence they will be distributed to the various centres.
BASQUE REFUGEE CHILDREN
The Habana left Bilbao at 6.40 a.m. on Friday, 21st May, 1937, with 3,840 children, accompanied by 200 women teachers and attendants and 16  priests. There were also travelling with them Mrs. Leah Manning, a representative of the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief, two children's specialists and two nurses, who went out to assist in the selection and preparation of the children. At the last moment an air-raid took place and not all the children were able to get on board. They followed in a yacht as far as Bordeaux.
The Habana arrived in Southampton waters on Saturday evening, 22nd May. A tug with food and drink went out to meet her and to bring back a serious case to the Borough Hospital. The children disembarked on Sunday, 23rd. They were given a great welcome and were met on the quay by Madame Azcarate, Senor Lizaso, Head of the Basque Delegation in London, the Duchess of Atholl and other officers of the National Joint Committee, Sir Walter and Lady Layton, Sir Walter and Lady Citrine and representatives of the T.U.C. and many others representing various Spanish relief organisations. There were present many Spanish-speaking English people and Spaniards, to act as interpreters.
The disembarkation went on most of that day and the following morning. Owing to the smooth and efficient work of the Port Medical authorities, who examined each child, and to the excellence of Mrs. Manning's arrangements at the other end, the disembarkation was effected rapidly and efficiently. Those children who did not satisfy the Medical authorities were sent to the Baths, where they were bathed, had their clothes baked and their hair cropped, before proceeding to the camp. They represented not more than 30 per cent. of the total number. The rest went in 'buses — 50 at a time — to the Camp.
Work had been in progress at North Stoneham, Eastleigh, making preparations for their reception for the last fortnight. A 30 acre field, belonging to Farmer Brown, and covered with buttercups and meadowsweet, had been transformed into a city of canvas — 500 bell tents and several enormous marquees. Sanitary ar-