-2- considering this method of warfare as barbarous, inhuman and contrary to all the rules of international law? How is it possible that, once the systematic employment of such a method has been proved, thanks to the praiseworthy initiative taken by the Government of the United Kingdom, the democratic governments should remain passive or indifferent, without attempting to apply the effective measures which are doubt at their disposal, so as to halt and terminate such usage? Why, then, was the Commission of Investigation instituted? To cover up the absence of adequate reaction, after having perfectly established the reality of the crime? (3) Nevertheless it is only just to recognise that when the British Commission of Investigation was designated, and when it was decided in the last League Assembly that its findings should be transmitted, to the Secretary-General to be published and communicated to the he Council, it was hoped, and believed, that if these reports showed the systematic application of aerial bombardments of the civilian population in Spain, then the mere publication of them would provoke such a movement of public opinion in the world as would render impossible , or at least restrain the employment of such methods of warfare. If this movement of opinion has not come about, would if consequently the publication of the findings of the Commission not only has failed to limit the aerial bombardments on the Spanish civilian population, but has not even helped to prevent their recrudescence and intensification in these last days, that fact does not diminish the responsibility of the democratic Governments; on the contrary, it makes that responsibility greater and more precise. The reports of the Commission have not produced the result expected Of them, but, on the other hand, they have brought conclusive proof of the deeds themselves; things which could formerly, with reason, have been considered as hypothetical, must now be admitted as real and positive. And % faced with this reality, established and proven as it is beyond all doubt by the findings of the Commission, no one can now escape his heavy and solemn responsibilities. (4) The Spanish Government proclaims with the pride its "helplessness" to protect the civilian population of its towns end countryside against the aerial bombardments, by application of the one effective method- |