Letter (copy) : Release of International Brigaders ; Letter

              Secretary's 
HVT/FC/SS/234
23rd December, 1942.
Mr. G. Harris, 
Plumbers' Glaziers' & Domestic Engineers' Union, 
15, Abbeville Road, 
Clapham, London, S.W.4.
Dear Mr. Harris,
Release of International Brigaders
Referring to your letter of the 13th instant on the above subject, I think I explained to you on the telephone yesterday the general position.
The whole matter is one of considerable difficulty from a diplomatic point of view, and whilst we have had many representations in regard to International Brigaders in France and North Africa yours is the first Organisation which has raised the question of those in Spain.
I may add that the Government has no knowledge of any British Subjects who have not been released, and of course their only real stand in making representations to any other Government is in respect of British Subjects.
For your information I am enclosing copy of a circular letter which was issued by the Labour Party at the time when representations were being made for the intervention of the British Government in the case of International Brigaders in France.   I am merely forwarding this because it shows the wide question which is involved in regard to representations of this kind.
Yours sincerely,
Assistant Secretary.
Circular.