AIR BOMBING OF CIVILIANS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22318, 4 February 1938, Page 13

AIR BOMBING OF CIVILIANS

Prohibition Urged MOTION ADOPTED BY COMMONS (UNITED PBE6S ASBOCIATIOK—COPTB.IGHT.) (Received February 3, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 3. After a strong speech by the Secre:.ay of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr R. A. Eden) in a surr-ise dethe House of Commons adopt without a division a Labour motion as follows: "In the opinion oi the House the growing horror of the aerial bombardment of defenceless civilians should be expressed in an international agreement to cooperate in its prohibition, and the House urges the Government to exert its influence to this end." Mr Eden indicated that the British Government intends to approach the Powers to seek such an agreement. BOMBING OF OPEN TOWNS

BRITISH GESTURE MADE TO PARTIES

LONDON, February 2.

The British Government has approached both sides in Spain and offered its services in any move to produce an agreement leading to a reduction in the danger to the civil population from indiscriminate bombing from the air. The Foreign Office announces that is supporting the move. The Basque Children's Committee considers that the bombing of open towns makes it impossible to send the refugee children back from England. Moreover, the parents of most of them are either in France or in Government territory.

SPANISH GOVERNMENT'S

OFFER

GROUNDS FOR ENDING AIR

REPRISALS

(Received February 3, 8.30 p.m.)

PARIS, February 3

It is authoritatively stated that the Spanish Government has decided to cease all air reprisals immediately if General Franco undertakes to end his aerial attacks.

TWO BRITISH SHIPS SEIZED ACTION OF INSURGENT WARSHIPS (Received February 3, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 3. The British United Press correspondent at Barcelona says that it is reliably reported that Spanish insurgent warships have seized two coal-carrying British ships off the Spanish east coast and have taken them to the Balearic islands. POLICY OF GENERAL FRANCO "PEACE COMPATIBLE WITH DIGNITY" (Received February 3, 11.50 p.m.) BURGOS, February 3. A declaration of policy issued after the first meeting of General Franco's first civil Cabinet on January 31 included the statement: "Our international policy aspires to peace, but to peace compatible with the highest dignity of the people, and through heroic war to the maximum respect of the nations."