DESTRUCTION OF GUERNICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 April 1937, Page 8

DESTRUCTION OF GUERNICA

NO INSURGENT PLANES PARTICIPATE OFFICIAL DENIAL GIVEN PASSIONATE PROTEST FROM BILBAO “UNEXAMPLED SAVAGERY” INDIGNATION THROUGHOUT EUROPE [United Press Association- By Electric Tel egra ph—Copy rign t J LONDON, 28th April. The mystery of the destruction of Guernica has been deepened by official denials that insurgents planes participated in the raid. A communique invites journalists to verify the claim by inspecting records. Basques are puzzled to explain the attack, pwing to the strategic unimportance of Guernica, but believe the insurgents hoped to shake the defenders’ morale by destroying the “holy city.” President Aguirre, in a proclamation from Bilbao makes “a passionate and burning protest” against suggestions that Guernica and Eiber were destroyed by republicans.

“German aeroplanes bombarded the defenceless civil population with unexampled savagery, I ask the civilised world, can it countenance the extermination of a people who have always regarded the defence of liberty and democracy as a most precious princapie?”

Repercussions of the raid roused indignation throughout Europe. English and French opinion and official quarters, are deeply concerned. Germany angrily denies the report that German bombers are responsible.

OBSERVATION SCHEME

EXTENSION TO CANARY ISLANDS CONSIDERED | British Oflieial Wireless] (Received 29th April, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, 28th April. The chairman’s sub-committee of the International Non-Intervention Committee resumed consideration of the application of the observation scheme to the Canary Islands, and agreed that there should be further study of the financial implications of the scheme for {he Canary Islands, in relation to the funds available for the observation scheme as a whole.

DEEPLY DEPLORED BY BRITAIN

FOREIGN SECRETARY’S STATEMENT QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS [British Oflieial Wirelessl 29th April. 10.10 a.m.! RUGBY. 28th April. “His Majesty’s Government deeply deplore the bombardment of the civilian population in the Spanish civil war wherever it may occur and whoever may be responsible, and the Government will continue to examine whether further steps are possible to prevent a recuirence of such deplorable events.” This statement was made in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary, Mi Anthony Eden, in answer to a question by private notice from the Opposition Leader, Mr C. R. Attlee, arising out of reports of the aerial bombardment on Monday by Spanish insurgent aeroplanes of Guernica. Large numbers of supplementary questions followed Mr Eden’s answer, some inspired by partisan sympathy for one side or the other, but all showing

a profound horror at the cruelties which the continuation of the civil war is inflicting •on numberless innocent Spaniards in territories on both sides. Mr Eden reiterated the regret of the Government at the bombing of civilians. and then desire to see an end to it

by an agreement between the two sides in Spain. 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.