International Brigade : inter-departmental correspondence ; Letter : International Brigade

              Mr. TEWSON    30th October, 1942.
INTERNATIONAL BRIGADE.
Harrow Trades Council have followed up their previous correspondence about the International Brigade; they agree no comparison can be made with the Dieppe prisoners, but think we should make at least an attempt on their behalf as they were anti-Fascist when it was not fashionable.    They state that the local M.P., a Conservative, is intending to take the matter to the Foreign Office.
I was speaking to Willis this morning, who says the London Trades Council E.C. accepted the advice of the T.U.C. on this issue at their meeting last night, and gave me two pieces of information.    One is that a member of his E.C. who is known to be a C.P.-er, but won't acknowledge it, claimed that there were 2,000 British International Brigade members still interned.  (Willis promptly took it up).   The other is that the last minutes of Harrow T.C. following up your point about the influence of the German and Spanish Governments, asked whether the T.U.C. proposed to approach those Governments.
Victor Feather, who is going to Harrow at the end of November, has been shewn this correspondence.
The correspondence seems to shew that, once we answer one point, Harrow accept our answer and find something else; in the circumstances, shall we leave the letter of 27th October unanswered?  - yes
AEC