Report of deputation of the Finance and General Purposes Comittee to Lord Halifax, Foreign Secretary, April 6, 1938

              STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.   Deputation 12.
7th April, 1938.
TRADES UNION CONGRESS
REPORT OF DEPUTATION OF FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE TO LORD HALIFAX, FOREIGN SECRETARY, APRIL 6, 1938
Lord Halifax was accompanied by Mr. R.A. Butler, Under-Secretary for Foreign Office.
PRESENT:
Mr. H.H. Elvin (Chairman),
Mr. A. Conley,
Mr. C. Dukes,
Mr. E. Edwards,
Mr. W. Holmes,
Mr. W. Kean,
Mr. J. Marchbank,
Sir Walter Citrine (General Secretary),
Mr. W.J. Bolton (International Department).
Before the deputation took place, there was a preliminary meeting at Transport House.   The General Secretary reported that he had received the following urgent telegram from the Executive Committee of the Spanish U.G.T., to which he had sent a reply as indicated.
Translation of Cablegram from Executive Commission of the Spanish U.G.T. (Union General de Trabajadores).
Citrine, British Trade Unions, 
Smith Square, London.
Direct barefaced participation of Italy and Germany, with use of men and material, particularly aeroplanes, used in hundreds in recent military operations and cruel attacks against open towns.    In face of intensification and obdurateness of the fight in our country, which sees itself prevented from acquiring aeroplanes to be able to oppose the German and Italian aircraft, we ask for decisive action in the fights against arms embargo.     Spanish Republican Government hoping energetic attitude of workers' organisation in favour of freedom of commerce.    Solidarity of Spanish Proletariat is defending peace of Europe and principles of liberty and democratic front. Formations regular Italian and German army with enormous superiority of armaments are massacring heroic defenders of independence of Spain advancing on Pyrenees, part of fascists' war according to own declaration.