Minutes

              PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL    N.C.L. 30, 1937-38-39.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL of LABOUR met in the HOUSE of COMMONS, S.W.1., on  Tuesday, February 14th, 1939, at 4.30 p.m.
PRESENT:
J. Hallsworth    (In the Chair). 
Charles Dukes,  A. Conley,
George Hicks,  C.R. Attlee, M.P.
D.R. Grenfell, M.P.  Hugh Dalton, M.P. 
George Lathan, M.P.  H.V. Tewson, 
H. Scott Lindsay,  J.S. Middleton, 
Arthur Greenwood, M.P. 
and other officials.
206.    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies for absence were reported from Mr. George Dallas, Mr. Herbert Morrison, Mr. John Marchbank, Mr. A.A.H. Findlay, Mr. Will Lawther, and Mr. George Gibson.
207. SPAIN:
Mr. Attlee reported upon the statement made in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister indicating that the Government had not yet decided to accord recognition to General Franco and the Insurgent Forces. It had also been indicated that the extension of Belligerent Rights to the Insurgents would not necessarily follow recognition so long as the Non-Intervention Committee was in being.     These matters were the subject of discussion by the French Cabinet, and were to be considered by the British Cabinet on the following day.
Mr. Attlee reported that the Speaker had refused a Motion for the Adjournment on the ground that action by the Government which might or might not be taken cannot be considered a matter of urgency.
A Debate would be possible if and when recognition had been decided upon.