Evening star., 1938-06-06
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


The State Department had under
consideration today British proposal
for appointment of unofficial Amer
lean experts as members of a four
power commission to investigate in
discriminate bombings of unfortifled
cities in Spain.
The proposal was discussed this
morning in long session by Secretary
Cordell Hull with his principal ad-
visers, Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles and the chief of the European
division, j. Pierrepont Moffat.
After a thorough examination OF
the British note Mr.. Hull decided that
there were certain important points
to be cleared up and the British
government was asked to give further
information before the administration
decides in this matter.
Bid Received Saturday.
The State Department received the
formal British invitation Saturday.
but hints earlier in the week that
such an invitation was forthcoming
led Undersecretary Welles to fire a
broadside Friday morning at indis-
criminate bombing by japanese and
Spanish flyers.
The British government proposes
that the United States, along with
Sweden and Norway. which also have
received similar invitations, appoint
an informal committee Of experts TO
visit places bombed by opposing air
forces in Spain to determine whether
those places constitute legitimate mill
tary objectives. .-.
The British proposition stresses the
idea that the citizens of the various
powers who might act on such COM
mittee should do so as private in
dividuals and should consequently be
free to express their opinions without
directly duplicating their respective
governments. This was proposed in
order to facilitate participation by the
United States Government.
Can't Send Official Observers.
In previous conversations regarding
this matter Washington pointed out
that it would be difficult for the Amer
ican Government to send official OBJ
servers to Spain to investigate the
air bombings. Such an action might
be interpreted as direct inmixture OF
this country in European affairs and
might be considered in contradiction
with the neutrality policy of this
country. But designating private cit
izens to join the representatives OF
other countries could give occasion to
no misgivings.
This was done in the past when
Gen. Charles Dawes, and later Owen
D. Young. were the leading personali-
ties in drafting the German debt pay
ment plans.
If the administration decides to
accept the British invitation, military
experts would be expected to take up
station somewhere on the French
border within easy reach of both in
surgent and republican territory In
case of any major bombardment which
occurred thereafter, they would be
expected to visit the scene promptly.
The experts would be required to speak
the Spanish language.
Seek to Use U. S. Feeling.
The basic idea which prompted the
British government to issue the invi-
tation to Washington was the hope of
taking advantage of the feeling of
disapproval in this country against the
indiscriminate bombings of the Span
ish loyahsts and to give the admins
tration the opportunity Of expressing
it disapproval of such occurrences
without actually becoming involved in
European affairs.
The moral effect would be important,
since acceptance of participation in
such humanitarian purpose would in
dicate to Berlin and Rome that, after
all, the United States sympathies are
converging toward the nations which
are on the right side of the law.