BOMBINGS IN SPAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 9

BOMBINGS IN SPAIN

KILLING OF CIVILIANS

BRITISH REACTION

GOVERNMENT'S REGRET

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received April 29, 10.55. a.m.) RUGBY, April 28.

His Majesty's Government deeply deplores the bombardment of the civilian population in the Spanish civil war, wherever it may occur and whoever may be responsible. In the past it has taken such steps as were open to it to make its attitude on this subject clear to both parties and to promote.agreements to safeguard the civilian population. It will continue to examine whether further steps are possible to prevent the recurrence of such deplorable events.

This statement was. made in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary in answer to a question by private notice of the Opposition Leader arising out of reports of the aerial bombardment on Monday by Spanish insurgent aeroplanes of Guernica, the historic Basque cultural centre, and of its aimqst total destruction with heavy loss of life among civilians.

A large number of supplementary questions followed Mr. Eden's answer, some inspired ,by partisan sympathy for one side or the other, but all showing profound horror :at the cruelties which the continuation of the civiL war is inflicting on numberless innocent Spaniards in the territories of both side;;.

Mr. Eden reiterated more than once the regret of ,the Government at the bombing of civilians, and its desire to see an end put to it by agreement between the two sides in Spain, and in this connection he was able to inform the House that both sides had now, on the initiative of his Majesty's Government, .given assurances of their intention not to resort to the use of poison gas as a weapon in the civil war.