AERIAL BOMBING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21503, 29 May 1933, Page 9

AERIAL BOMBING

ABOLITION PROPOSED BRITISH RESERVATION POLICE IN OUTLYING PARTS SARCASM AT GENEVA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 28, r .15 p.m.) GENEVA, May 28 A British proposal for the complete abolition of aerial bombardment, except for police purposes, in outlying regions, passed its first reading at yesterday's sitting of the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference. The reservation, however, produced a storm.

The opinion was sarcastically expressed that the intention was to reserve police bombing for citizens within a country's own frontiers. It was wondered why remote regions were to enjoy fruits of civilisation, in which those nearer to a metropolis were not to participate. Among others who condemned aerial bombardment was Dr. Wallington Koo. He instanced China's sufferings as the result of foreign raids. Mr. Wilson (America) declared that the United States believed the abolition of aerial bombing must be absolute, unqualified and universal. They must capitalise the growing conviction that bombing was a crime. Any exceptions would vitiate that moral force. Herr Nadolny said Germany was prepared to go to all possible lengths to prevent civil aeroplanes being used for military purposes.

Captain Anthony Eden (Britain) explained the necessity for the bombing of unruly tribes. This prevented the employment of numbers of troops, which would result in increased casualties. Moreover, a warning of such raids, which was usually given, sufficed. Captain Eden said ho did not think Irak would abandon the possibility of resorting to aerial bombing. Britain would be prepared to say which regions were involved in the exception. If tho Commission accepted tho British figures, tho Air Forces would be reduced 50 per cent.