Letter (copy) : Francisco Largo Caballero

              International 
HVT/AC/222
23rd November, 1940.
Rt. Hon. Ernest Bevin, P.C., M.P., 
Ministry of Labour, 
WHITEHALL, S.W.1.
Dear Mr. Bevin,
FRANCISCO LARGO CABALLERO.
I have your note of 21st November in regard to the communication which you have received from the International Transportworkers' Federation, which you enclosed with your letter, and which I return herewith.
I have communicated with Lord Halifax in regard to Caballero, who, we have heard from several sources, is in Spanish hands. In the same letter, I referred to the case of Manuel Cordero (not mentioned in any of your correspondence) who, we understand, has been arrested in Lisbon, and who, it is feared, is to be handed over to the Spanish authorities. We appreciate of course the difficulties of intervening, but merely asked Lord Halifax if he could make enquiries whether circumstances permit any assistance being given to our friends.
We have heard from another source that three of the persons named in Fimmen's letter "have been trapped with Caballero." This may not be true, however, and I do not propose taking any action, in view of the fact that Fimmen has no confirmation  whatever that they are in Franco's hands, and as he suggests that intervention might do more harm than good. It is just possible that Schevenels may know something of Pascual Tomas, and I will have a word with him.
Our reports seem to agree with regard to Caballero and if you could reinforce the request made to Lord