International Federation of Trade Unions and Labour Socialist International: Report of International Delegation to Spanish Government

              PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. International C'tee 3/6.1934/5.
16th February, 1935.
TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL COUNCIL.
I.F.T.U. and L.S.I. 
SPAIN.
Report of International Delegation to Spanish Government.
The I.F.T.U. and the International League of the Rights of Man and the L.S.I, formed a Legal Committee for the defence and protection of the Spanish prisoners in Spain.
This Committee had asked Victor Basch, President of the International League of the Rights of Man, Walter Schevenels (I.F.T.U.), Mr. Mitchison, Vincent Auriol (L.S.I.), to go to Madrid with a view to seeing the Chief of the Cabinet and the President of the Republic.
Messrs. Basch and Mitchison not being able to go owing to illness, Messrs. Schevenels and Auriol undertook the work. After encountering many difficulties, they succeeded in obtaining an interview with M. Lerroux, who is the Chief of the Cabinet.     This interview took place at 5.30 in the afternoon of February 9th, 1935.
At the interview the Chief of the Cabinet was informed that public opinion was desirous of receiving from him assurances that there would be no more executions as the result of the events of October last, and that the normal Republican regime would be re-established there, with civic and constitutional rights, including freedom of organisation for the working classes.
Reply of the Chief of the Cabinet.
The Chief of the Cabinet said that he wished to speak frankly.  He appreciated and respected the mission of humanity which actuated the delegation.
Referring to his own past work in the cause of liberty, he said that he could be counted upon to put into practice sentiments of generosity and clemency in regard to those who took part in the struggle for political objects.
But the re-establishment of the normal and constitutional situation in Spain would not be possible before they had discovered the real origin of the revolutionary movement. He did not yet understand, even now, the reason which in October 1934 caused the opposition to take the action they did.
He repudiated also the allegations that had been published in reports and the Press about atrocities committed by the forces of the State.     It was his view that it was the revolutionaries themselves who had committed acts of cruelty, Likewise, he refused to believe in the facts that had been brought before him concerning tortures during the interrogation