CORPUS CHRISTI

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13816, 22 July 1918, Page 2

CORPUS CHRISTI

AT.T.nrn DECISION QUESTIONED. i A HUNS' PECULIAB MENTALITY. | In the House of Commons, replying " to questions regarding the Government action in agreeing to a reb quest from the Vati<*n not to bombard on Corpus Christi Day, Mr Boliar Law (leader of the House) stated that an appeal from the Vatican was xeeeived by the British and French Governments, who had given a reply in [the terms already announced. The re--s,ply was sent after consultation, and in with the French Government. The staff of the Air Ministry was also consulted. "The action of the Germans," he added, "in shelling Paris, despite undertaking will not be forgotten the event of any similar appeal being ?made in the future." Mr Hall: Did the Germans undertake that the aircraft used in protecting the back areas would not be used I for bombing hospitals and troops on • Corpus Christi Day? Mr Bonar Law: The< Air Ministry | expected that the German aircraft ' would not be used, if only because the notice was too short for an expedition to be made. Beplying to further questions, Mr i. Bonar Law said that the decision was taken by the War Cabinet after full consideration of all relevant facts.

Refusal Justified. ( Captain Carr-Gomm (L): Was the attention of the Vatican drawn to the . "Whitsun air raid on London and the 1 Good Friday bombardment of Paris! Mr Bonar Law: No; obviously the •Government would have been fully justified in view of the Whitsun air raid in refusing altogether to consider the appeal. It seemed a peculiar example -of German mentality that such a request should be submitted by the Germans after what occurred; but although it was an impudent request, it did npt follow that it was an unwise British decision. Mr Herbert Samuel (L): Were the Germans asked reciprocally to spare places behind the Anglo-French lines', Mr Bonar Law: No; had we made such a request it would have implied that we were making a bargain. We /were not making a bargain, but doing what we thought was right. Mr Fredrick Wbyte (L): Has the "Vatican made any representations to the Germans regarding the bombardment of Paris on Good Friday ? Mr Bonar Law: We are not aware that the Vatican has done so, but we lave drawn the attention of the Vatican to the bombardment of I'aris on Corpus Christi Day. Pope Thanks Britain. Reuter's correspondent at Ifonie states that the Vat; r.n has thanked Britain for the with which the Government a<- t pted the proposal not to bombard Cologne during the festival of »'• > r;• >• ~ '