Letter (copy) : Spanish seamen

              International. 
HVT/AC/DT/726.
5th March, 1941.
Mr. De Gondra, 
Basque Delegation,
7/8, Hobart Place,
Eaton Square, 
LONDON S.W.1
Dear Mr. De Gondra,
SPANISH SEAMEN
For some time now we have been in correspondence with the new International Labour Branch of the Ministry of Labour, with a view to getting two Spanish seamen in our charge in this country placed in suitable employment.
Openings have been found and training made available for many over the past months.   The Branch has been able to report numerous cases where men have been placed in employment (frequently of a kind previously unfamiliar to them), on shore or at sea. The numbers in our charge are now down to less than 25 persons.
By the way, you will recall that last week you were enquiring of our Mr. Carthy about the possibility of work being found for Angel Aguirre of Sunderland.   We duly enquired of the International Labour branch and were informed that the report on him is that he is prepared to accept employment at sea only as Master or Chief Officer, or on shore in posts of a managerial or supervisory nature in brokerage, chartering, stevedoring, etc.    The comment of the local Ministry of Labour official is that the prospects of finding such employment at the present time are poor, as the conditions which he makes can hardly be fulfilled.
I can appreciate that at sea Mr. Aguirre would prefer not to work as deck hand after 20-odd years as Master, but this
P.T.O