asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the Executive Council have considered the question of terminating diplomatic relations with the Ministry at Valencia, Spain, and of taking steps leading to the recognition of General Franco's Government, and what decision they have reached in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Diplomatic Relations with Spain.
The policy of Saorstát Eireann as a member of the European Community of Nations is to take its share in establishing and maintaining peace and stability. In pursuance of that policy it is our intention to follow the normal rules relating to recognition which the Deputy will find formulated generally in Deputy MacDermot's question of yesterday. Any departure from these rules based on long experience would be more likely to do harm than good. That is the view of practically all the States of the world. Diplomatic relations between this country and Spain were established on the 3rd September, 1935, that is, long before the events leading to the present terrible conditions. The assumption that Governments in diplomatic relations with Spain condone the horrors which have been committed against nuns, priests and civilians simply because they have not formally accredited their representatives to General Franco's Government is without any foundation.
Arising out of the reply of the Minister for External Affairs, will he say does he think it desirable that this country should hold itself out amongst the nations of the world as one which considers it desirable and expedient to maintain diplomatic relations with a Government that is notoriously Communist and which is primarily concerned in Spain at present to drive religion out of that country and to deny the very existence of God?
My answer explains the question.
Does the Minister for External Affairs decline to answer that supplementary question?
I have nothing to add to what I have stated.
Will the President say if the Minister appointed to Spain has any other function there except to try to dispose of the few surplus eggs left here in this country by the losing of the British market?
The Deputy will have plenty of time to make his speech on the Bill which is to come on later.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the Minister accredited to the Spanish Government has resumed his diplomatic functions, whether he has been asked to report on conditions in Spain, whether he has sent in any such report, and whether the Executive Council will furnish a report to the Dáil.
Our Minister to Spain has been sent to St. Jean-de-Luz in French territory where a number of the representatives formerly resident in Madrid are now stationed. He will be able from there to keep in touch with both sides and safeguard as far as possible the interests of Irish citizens in all parts of Spain. Our representative will, of course, supply us with reports on the situation as he finds it, but the restrictions imposed on freedom of movement by the existing circumstances must necessarily narrow the scope of these reports.
Arising out of the reply of the Minister for External Affairs to the effect that at St. Jean-de-Luz our representative to the Madrid Government will be enabled to keep in touch with both sides, will the Minister inform us whether he wishes to imply by that statement that our Government intends to accredit that Minister to the Spanish Government at Burgos?
If the Deputy will look at the map he will see that St. Jean-de-Luz is nearer to Burgos than it is to Valencia.
Does the Minister for External Affairs intend that this Minister should represent Saorstát Eireann to the Government at Burgos?
I do not propose to add to my answers already given.