Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-07-23
rbe
Mar Today
Roosevelt Reply
to Pope S Plea for
Rome Expected
By KINasBURY SMITH

BY KINGsBURY SMITH
EnssrnationaI News Service War AnAiys
THE AMERICAN govern
rnent today is expected 10 de-
fend the bombing of Rome as a
regretable but necessary meas
ure forced on the Allied nations
by the ruthless methods OF
warfare initiated by the Axis
powers.
II is believed that President
Roosevelt himself may explain
the American governments
views in reply 10 Pope Plus
KITS statement deploring the
bombing of the Holy City OF
Catholicism.
If the President does so, il is
considered likely he viii en-
phasize the rigid instructions
given the American fliers 10
avoid. as much as possible. the
destruction Of non-military OBJ
!ectives.
He also is expected 10 stress
the Importance of the railway
junction on the outskirts OF
Rome as a vital communication
center for military traffic 10
Southern Italy
MEANWHILE, authoritative
sources in Washington recalled
that the United States was the
first nation 10 raise its voice
at the beginning of World War
IL in an urgent appeal TO the
major European powers 10
spare civilian populations and
unfortified cities from aerial
bombardment.
In a message sent to the
British, French, Italian. German
and Polish governments on Sept.
4. 1889. a few hours after word
had been received of the Ger
man invasion of Poland, Presi-
dent Roosevelt said;
THE RUTHLESS bombing
from the air of civilians In un-
fortified centers Of population
during the course OF hostillues
which have ragged In various
/. quarters Of the earth during the
last few years, which resulted
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 pro-
foundly shocked the conscience
of humanity.
eff resort il had TO this form
of inhuman barbarism during
the period of the tragic con-
Migration with which the world
a now confronted, hundreds OF
->thousands. OF innocent human
beings who have no responsible
ity for, and who are not even
! remotely participating In, the
. hostilitIes which have now
broken out. will lose their lives.
sT am therefore addressing
this urgent appeal to every
! government which may be en-
gagged I'm hostilities, publicly to
affirm its determination that Its
armed forces shall in no event,
and under no circumstances,
undertake the bardment
from the air OF civilian popula-
/, lions or of anfortifed cities,
|. upon the understanding that
) these same rules of warfare
will be scrupulously observed
by all OF their opponents"
THE BRITISH. French and
! Polish governments replied, the
same day, expressing willing
ness to abide by the Presidents
suggestion providing the other
l parties concerned did likewise.
The Italian government also
4 replied the same day asserting
; that Italy. did not intend to
take any initiative in military
: Operations" and therefore the
( appeal did not apply 10 that
: country.
: Nine months later, Italy
-launched the stab-in-the-back
attack on France already
crumbling under the German
aonslsught-
Later. Mussolni also an
snounced that he had asked Ger
Smsny for the privilege OF
participating in the bombing OF
,Great Britain.
; ON SEPT. 2, 1899, Hitler re-
Splied 10 President Roosevelt's
rappeal with assurances that he
Internationally" endorsed the
eproposal
: In view of the fact that the
German air force destroyed
smore than 1000 British
%churches and ruthlessly bombed
scfvilian populations and unde-
Tended cities throughout Europe,
american officials feel that the
Axis powers must assume full
responsibility for what is now
happening 10 their cities.
Ia IL - "a