The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-01
tons thaht 1t be conveyed to the
paVerf1 ~ ef1ta eaid.

tons thaht 1t be conveyed to the
governments, said:
"The ruthless bombing from the
air OF civilians in unfortified CEN
tiers OF population during the course
OF hostilities which have ragged In
various quarters Of the earth during
the past few years, which has re-
suited In the manning and In the
death Of thousands Of defenseless
men, women and children, has sick
ened the heart OF every civilized
man and woman, and has Profound
~ shocked the conscience Of hui
mainly.
If resort Is had TO this form Of
inhuman barbarism during the per-
iod OF the tragic conflagration with
which the world Is now confronted,
hundreds OF thousands OF innocent
human beings who are not even re-
motely participating In hostilities,
will lose their lives.
II am therefore addressing this
appeal to the (Soviet Finnish) gov
eminent as ! have To governments
which have been engaged In general
hostilities, publicly TO affirm It's de-
termination that Its armed forces
shall IN no event. and under no
circumstances, undertake the. bonn
bardment from the air OF civilian
populations or Of unfortified cities,
upon the understanding that these
same rules Of warfare will be scrup-
ulously observed by all Of their OPP
ponents.
Asks For Reply
II request an immediate reply"
Such appeals IN the past have not
been too effective. Despite such an
appeal, the Nationalist forces In
Spain continued to bomb Loyaiist
cities from the air until almost the
end Of the civil war. The Japanese
air force continues TO bomb Chinese
cities, though Mr.. Roosevelt ap-
pealed 10 Japan q year and a half
ago. German planes blasted War
saw and other Polish cities. despite
an appeal from Mr. Roosevelt at the
outbreak Of the war.
SO far German, British and
French airplanes have refraired
from bombing the cities Of their re-
spective opponents, but authorities
ascribe this to the fear Of immed-
tate and disastrous reprisals
Compilation Of "the record" was
considered by many to be of utmost
importance In the immediate course
Of American-So diplomatic re-
lations These relations have been
strained for several weeks, since So
Wet Premier v M. Molotov and other
Soviet officials publicly criticized
President Roosevelt for "unwarran-
ted interference" In European az
fairs because of an appeal to So
Wet President Mikhail Kalinin to
use every effort to reach a settle
ment of Russia's controversy with
Finland by pacific means.
The new American neutrality law
also was criticized by Russian lead
ers who said 1t was unneutral.
'The record" may be important to
justify and support this govern
ment's next move In the Russo-Fin-
nish crisis. Both the White House
and the state department steadfast-
ly declined to indicate what direc-
ton that move might be. Secretary
of State Cordell Hull insisted that
this government would await official
confirmation of the existing situa-
ton before making a decision.
Mr.. Roosevelt notified congression-
al leaders Of both parties to stand
by" for conferences on the Soviet
Finnish situation. In authoritative
quarters It was believed a confer
ence between the president and con-
gressional leaders might precede any
important move. Before congress adj
journed It's special session Mr..
Roosevelt asked congressional lead
ers Go remain IN Washington during
the recess so he could consult them
in event Of further international
crises