Evening star., 1938-06-03
WE[LES ASSA|LS
CIVIL BOMBING IN
CHINA AND SPAIN
Statement Is Issued After
Conference With
Roosevelt.
METHODS BARBAROUS,
HULL'S AIDE ASSERTS
Emphatic Reprobation Coincident
With Protests Delivered
by Britain.
Py the Associated Press.

Py the Associated Press.
The United States Government ex-
pressed today its emphatic repro
baton" Of bombings OF civilian pop
ulations in China and Spain.
Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles. after q conference with Presi-
T"-t Roosevelt, issued a stern state
ment on behalf Of the State -
ment.
The statement said American pub
lie opinion regards such methods
as "barbarous.
Deaths Of Hundreds Cited.
1t recalled that in recent DAYS
aerial bombings have caused the death
OF many hundreds of persons in Spain
and China.
Mr.. Welles mentioned the fact that
the United States Government has on
numerous occasions expressed its dis
approval of such action, particularly
through statements by Secretary Hull
September 28 and March 81.
The Undersecretary said today's
statement was not taken In conjunc-
ton with Great Britain and was not
being communicated automatically
to Gen. Franco or the japanese gov
ernment
1t said:
Text of Statement.
"The Government of the United
States has on numerous occasions
expressed its belief that the outbreak
Of serious hostilities anywhere in the
world might in one way or another
affect the interests of this country.
Both in the Far East and in Europe
there have been going on hostilities
every aspect Of which the American
people and this Government have de-
plored.
When the methods used in the
conduct of these hostilities take the
form Of ruthless bombing of unforti-
fed localities, with the resultant
slaughter OF civilian populations and
in particular of women and children,
public opinion in the United States
regards such methods as barbarious.
Previous Protests.
Several times during the past year,
especially on September %, 1887,
and, on March 81, 1888, the Secretary
OF State has expressed the views of
this country to the effect that any
general bombing Of an extensive area
wherein there resided a large popu-
lation engaged in peaceful pursuits
is contrary to every principle of law
and of humanity.
During the past few days there
have taken place in China and in
Spain aerial bombings which have re-
suited in the death Of many hundreds
OF the civilian population
This Government, while scrupu-
lously adhering to the policy of nom
intervention, reiterates this Nations
emphatic reprobation of such meth
ods and of such acts-which are in
violation Of the most elementary prin-
ciples of those standards of humane
conduct which have been developed
as an essential part of modern civili-
zation."
England Protests Bombings Anew.
LONDON, June (P.-Prime Minis
ter Neville Chamberlain announced
new protests today against air bomb
ings in both China and Spain and ran
into opposition demands in the House
of Commons that Britain do something
besides hold up its hands in horror" !"
The House also was told that Britain
was considering inviting other gov
ernments to join her in establishing
q commission to investigate bombings
Of civilian populations in Spain.
This disclosure was made by r. A..
Butler, parliamentary undersecretary
for foreign affairs.
The prime minister said the British
agent at Burgos, Spain, had been in
structed to express to insurgent Gen.
eralissimo Franco the governments
horror" at the loss Of civilian lives
in the aerial bombardment of Granol-
lers and other Spanish government
towns. France had been asked to take
similar action, he added.
The British Ambassador in Toxic
also had been instructed, he said, to
protest urgently against 'indiscrimi-
nate bombings" at Canton, China, in
which the premier said $50 persons
were killed and 1000 wounded.