Minutes (extract). Spain

              55.
24th March, 1937.
135. SPAIN.
Minutes of meeting of the National Council of Labour, held on 23rd March, 1937, were read and considered paragraph by paragraph.
Item 60.    Interview with Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
On this item, concern was expressed at the apparent confusion in the Parliamentary situation on Spain, and
IT WAS DECIDED that the Secretary should explore the possibilities of establishing contacts with the Trade Union Group in the House,
Item 61.    International Brigade.
A reference was made to the constant attacks on the Trades Union Congress and Labour Party appearing in "Reynolds" newspaper, and it was felt to be most appropriate that this should be dealt with in the impending discussions with the Co-operative Movement.
Report of International Federation of Trade Unions and Labour and Socialist International Conference on the situation in Spain, held in London on the 10th and 11th March, 1937, was also considered.
The Secretary reported that he had read a letter received from the Furnishing Trades Association to the British delegation, and they decided that this matter could not be brought before the full Conference. This to be made clear in the Report in order to guide the Chairman of a future Conference.
Sir Walter then referred to various attacks in the foreign press which had been made on the Conference and on Mr. Bevin.     An unauthorised delegate, who was a Communist, had attended with the Spanish delegation and it was thought that distorted versions of the meeting had emanated from that source.
On the motion of Mr. Dukes,
IT WAS DECIDED that the Secretary should communicate with the Secretary of the I.F.T.U. making enquiries into the incidents which had led to unwarranted attacks on the British Delegation.
The Secretary then reported on a deputation to Mr. Eden, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, held on 22nd March, 1937, re Spain.   (A written report had been prepared in the office to be kept on the files). The Deputation was in pursuance of the decisions taken at the London Conference of the Internationals on the 10th and 11th March, 1937.
On the motion of Mr. Kean,