International Solidarity Fund: Spanish Base Hospital : memorandum of telephone call from the Internation Federation of Trade Unions

              MEMORANDUM OF INTERVIEW.
Date 15th April 1937.
Time 3.p.m to
SUBJECT.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY FUND 
- SPANISH BASE HOSPITAL -
Reference EAB
Present
The International Federation of Trade Unions telephoned from Paris today with regard to the anaesthesis apparatus which it is proposed should be supplied to the base hospital in Spain.
They stated that their information was that the apparatus referred to in our correspondence was not good. The two Belgian surgeons who are in charge of the arrangements have stated that they consider it unsuitable, and they are much against its being used. Among others, they give as their reasons:
(i) That owing to its greater tendency to explosions, the apparatus is dangerous to patients, hospital staff, and the hospital itself;
(ii) Supplies are unobtainable in France or Belgium, and would have to be ordered from Germany; 
(iii) it needs a specialist to operate the apparatus. 
(iv) They have tried this apparatus and found it to be so unsatisfactory that they have returned to their former methods.
Schevenels therefore suggested that in view of the objections raised by the Belgian surgeons we should not proceed with the arrangements for the purchase of the apparatus. He thought that probably the best way out would be for the money to be sent to the I.F.T.U. who would undertake to purchase in France a definite piece of equipment.
I asked whether they would prefer the money being