Page 1, 16th July 1937

16th July 1937

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Page 1, 16th July 1937 — Basques Ask For Children's Return
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Basques Ask For Children's Return

MANY EVACUATED WITHOUT CONSENT
PARENTS' PITIFUL LETTERS " C.H." ARRANGING REPATRIATION
PARENTS OF THE 4,000 CHILDREN WHO WERE EVACUATED TO ENGLAND FROM BILBAO WANT THEM BACK.
The Catholic Herald is receiving letters daily from parents and guardians of the young Basques who arrived at Southampton on May 22 and have been cared for in nearly every part of the country.
These letters are the first results of the Catholic Herald's announcement on June 25 that such children as were wanted back by their parents should be returned to them without delay.
Not only do these courteous, simple and human letters tell pitiful stories of how, in many cases, the evacuation has inflicted cruelty on individuals, but they provide a remarkable and absolutely authentic documentation on what the ordinary Spaniard thinks of the War.
It will be seen from extracts of the letters, which are printed below, that certain of the children were sent away without the consent of their parents, that others' parents or guardians do not know for certain whether their children arc in England.
One point stands out above all others. It is that Nationalist occupation of the country around Bilbao is genuinely interpreted as a release from Red oppression and starvation resulting from executive mud dle-headedness.
From Maria Dolores Gord de Iroz. Carlos III-2, Pamplona. She sends a photograph of the child in question.
" The girl Maria Luisa Eriarte Zurbano, who is 8 years old, left Pamplona fur San Sebastian, with her aunt. Luisa Zurbano, who is 32 years old, and whose address in San Sebastian is: Calle de Pena ,y (tofu 9, 5th floor on the right. When the Nationalist Army elate/awl San Sebastian, the tattier went At once to fetch his daughter, and wag told by the neighbours that they had fled to Bilbao. During the months which have passed since the fall of San Sebastian and Bilbao, attempts have been made to trace the child through the International Red Cruse. but without success; all other enquiries in Bilbao have been equally unsuccessful.
" If there were no other differences between lied and White Spain, what has happened to the children would he enough to prove on which side the truth lies, and the justiee. The Reds have not wanted to nor have they been able to look after their ehildren ; in Red Spain they have no food or shelter for the unhappy children; on the other hand, in Franco's Spain, at the same time as the terrible load of a war without gold is being fought, children are being better looked after than ever before, and food kitchens, shelters. and summer camps are multiplying, together with the &Airs, which will soon be realised, that the many innocent victims who have had to leave Spain. may mime buck, and learn patriotism and love of God.
"'This, and nothing else, is the truth about our war. which is so misunderstood abroad, thanks to the wickedness of the Reds. It is being fought for God and Spain. and for Christian civilisation. We want the Faith, justice. and charity for everybody. rich and poor alike. In a political war men do not die with the faith and gladness with which our soldiers are fighting, for high ideals only. Nfothers and wives part with their men with sad hearts, but they give them with sublime generosity, so that they may defend their Country and their Faith. The Catholics of Spain show all the gratitude which the Catholic Kerala deserves for its generous offer, which God will reward, and we ask of our English brothers their sympathy and support for our cause."
• Letter from hdian and Dolores Ruiz de Larrinaga," El Buen Gusto," Dato, No. 11, Vitoria.
" We should be ,most grateful if you would see that the children mentioned below are sent back to this blessed house. The children left Vizcaya on :Slay 20, in the Habana, in which were four thousand children.
"'rho most poignant desire of these humble Catholic parents is that you Should let us have news of them, and I therefore give you their names: " Jose Maria Ruiz de Larrinaga Garcia de Salazar. 12 years old.
" Julian Ca rmelo RUTZ de Larrinaga Garcia le Salazar, 11 years old.
" Antonia Ruiz de Larrinaga Garcia de Salazar, 9 years old."
From German Gonzalez Cutierrez, Piedrapta de Bahia Leon.
"As I have a girl (Adamna Gonzalez Cernandez) who was at school in Heusi°, and who was evacuated to the Spanish Camp. Southampton, I would like to have her back again to Franco's Spain. so that she may be with her parents and sisters; the more so as
from the first I was in Franco's territory, and moreover, I have not suffered from the horrors of the war; and living as it is possible Le live in the best of worlds. and for this reason I 11.8/5 you, through your paper, to tostore my child to me in any place in the liberated Zone, and I will pay all the costs necessary.
"• If, for any reason which has nothing to do with you, the return of the Bilbao children who have been welcomed . hospitably in England. is forbidden., I ask yen to take any child under your prtoteetion; she is 15 years old and has been educated in Catholic families, and it would be a real grief to me, her father. if she were badly treated as regards her religion.
"On June 7 last, I made a claim through the International Red those, but I have heard nothing morn."
Letter from Rafael Garaita, Iturribide 38, I°, Bilbao.
" A father of three sons, whose numbers in the group are 605, 606. and 6O7, is grateful from his heart for your campaign, and asks you to bring it to the notice of General Franco, who has a big heart, so that he may also do his best so that our children may be sent bark to their Ileums.
" My three sons are Spanish by origin, like their father, and not separatists like those who have tried to ruin this great Spain."
Letter from Francisco Mendez Manso, a member of the Guardia Civil, of " Liodio" (Alava). He has one son, Manuel. aged nearly 15, who was evacuated to England.
The boy " was evacuated from Bilbao after
its liberation by our glorious army . to England, without the consent of his parents. although they were in the liberated territory of Nationalist Spain."
From Eustasio Marquiner, Calle de Vitoria, Miranda de Ebro, who concludes that his proteges are in England.
" . . assuming that this has happened to my nephews and nieces, i.e., a boy, Caesar Marquiner Loyarte, and a girl, Carmen Marquiner Loyarte. aged 9 and 7 years. children of David and Bernardina—I apply to you, wilting you to see to their repatriation to the town of my residence, Miranda de Ebro, as both parents and children have disappeared from Bilbao."
From Timoteo Ochanditino y Eguia, Durango.
"I am the father of the children Juan, Maria Rosario, and Maria BegunaDchandiano y Drruburu. I beg you to do everything that you can throfigh your paper to get my children back as soon as possible. 1 long for them very much. God will repay the work you are doing for my children and their companions.
" Please forgive my troubling you, and many thanks for your work of repatriating the Vizeayan children. May God bless your enterprize ! "
From Luisa Salcedo, Fueros No. 2 Tudela Navarre.
"I want the children, Maria Luisa Roncal Salcedo, 15 years old (but looks less) and Tomas Renee] Salcedo, 7' years, evacuated from Bilbao on May 19. to England, where their address is North Stoneham Camp, Eastleigh, Hants.
" I ask (guided by your chivalrous offer which was published in the Spanish papers) that these children should be deposited free of charge in the free Zone, belonging to General Franco (God bless him) so that I may take theta hock into the bosom of my family, as I am an aunt and the whereabouts of their parents is at present unknown.
" If this is possible. I shall be eternally grateful to the Editor. who has so humanely put his resources and [services at our disposal, so that the children may be sent back to their bereaved families."
From Victoria Solera, Bilbao.
" We have two little girls, Carmen. 11 years old. and Beeline. It years old. who were evacuated to escape the horrors and privations of Bilbao during the Red occupation. We have had no news of them.
" We have never meddled in politiee. so that we had nothing to leave Bilbao for, and the Reds forced my poor husband. wbo is 45 years old, to go and dig trenches, and they did not allow him to come home when the liberating troops were going to enter, so that I am in the hitter position of not knowing whether my husband is alive or dead. and I have the added grief of not knowing anything about my daughters, and they are the only ones I have."




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