'The discussion of the aerial bombing of open towns at Geneva has evoked expressions" of pinion' which clearly point to "the gradual development of the defnte conviction "that some international measures should be taken to Festrict the use of the aeroplane og a weapon Of offence. The Japanese view of the, pains ciples involved is clearly in conflict with the majority of the speeches made at Geneva. The Jdimeutty of recorelling the elsie that Japanese Sirmen are not warring against non-combatants with the actual facts of the bombing of tome fifty cities in China: must present itself to the mind" of any" unprejudiced "observer. The Tevelations of experts have. shown that the aeroplane is a very inexact weapon whether its farget be sought by bombs of machine-guns, This was tragically shown by the destruction which Shanghai suffered as the result of some Imisealeulation by Chinese aeroplanes on August 14." Tt has been consistently confirmed. by the casualties accruing from nearly every Japanese air-raid," Yet the. statements of the Japanese authorities themselves show that miscalculation not the sole factor in' their exploits "The dedan to "bom Canton Yor Gxamnle_ Was which' Viscount" Cranborne has so. well "one ranily out of second with the principles
Unciated with his. colleagues" approval, Tne suffelent attention appears to be paid by Japan fosse spokesmen to the basle fact that the onus of ensuring that Bombing operations from the alt fare directed against purely military: objectives, The theory that modern, warfare: must neces: sarily Jelison all conventions. hay not, boon endorsed even by Japan, s0 that the speakers at [Geneva were on sound ground in their attempt arrive. at. some" practical "definitions facilitate the Inhuman bombing of. defenceless civilians, "expecially in areas. "where civilian rather" than' military "life predominates," The situation Hero should' surely be considered with some relation to. actualities." When' Japanese aeroplanes are scouring the skies to attack many cities In China as they can, they can hardly "be said to be searching for_militry targets. Rather does st seem "that they are Planning to break elvitian morate In the pellet that such a consummation will indirectly weaken the forces in the feld. It becomes necessary: for International opinion to consider whether hat species of terrorism Is to be tolerated,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.