Minutes of General Council (extract)

              MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL, HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 28th OCTOBER, 1936, At 10 A.M. AT TRANSPORT HOUSE, SMITH SQUARE,
Item 133.   Spanish Situation.
Sir Walter Citrine made a brief statement regarding the Spanish situation and then gave a full report of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Trade Unions, held in Paris on the 21st and 22nd October, 1936, and the Joint meeting of the I.F.T.U. and Labour and Socialist International, held on the 26th October.
The following resolution, which was adopted by the Joint Conference, was circulated to the meeting.
"The Bureau of the L.S.I. and the Executive of the I.F.T.U., meeting in Paris on October 26, 1936, confirm their previous declaration that in accordance with the existing rules of international law, the legal Government of Spain should be permitted to obtain the necessary means for its own defence.
In view of the fact that the Non-Intervention Agreement has not produced the results expected in the international sphere, because of the determination of the Fascist Powers to assist the rebels and of the impossibility of establishing really effective supervision, the two Internationals declare that it is the common duty of the working class of all countries, organised politically and industrially, to secure by their influence upon public opinion and upon their respective Governments, the conclusion of an international agreement - for which the French and British Governments should take the initiative - restoring complete commercial liberty to Republican Spain.
The defence of the Spanish Republic must be one of the main preoccupations of the workers of the world.    The two Internationals call upon the Labour and Socialist organisations to co-ordinate their own activities so as to prevent as far as possible the despatch of supplies to the Spanish rebels",
Mr. Bevin suggested that the Governments should take the responsibility in the suggested new international Agreement to prevent arms being sent to the rebels.
IT WAS DECIDED that the General Council meet the Executive Committees of the Labour Party and the Parliamentary Labour Party that afternoon at the pre-arranged Joint meeting,(which had been called to consider the Spanish position ,) with an open mind on the subject and, if necessary, retire for separate consideration of any proposals put forward.