48. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister if, in response to an appeal received through the Vatican, the Government have undertaken that there should be no aircraft attack on cities not in the vicinity of the battle front during the day time on 30th May; whether a like appeal was made to the Allied Governments concerned; and, if so, with what result; if he can state whether any similar action has at any time been taken by the Vatican with reference to the bombing of hospitals and the torpedoing of hospital ships by the Germans; and, if so, with what result; and, if not, whether, as the lives of British" soldiers and sailors wounded while fighting in the defence of. freedom may be regarded as of not less value than those of the persons who assemble on Corpus Christi Day to pray for the success of Germany in her attacks on the liberties of the world, the Government will take the opportunity to make representations to the Vatican on the matter?
§ 50. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether an undertaking was given, or an announcement made, by the British Government that a German town should be immune from attack by British aircraft on the 30th of May; if so, at whose request was such an undertaking 1226 given and what reasons were offered for compliance with it; were the military authorities in France consulted on the subject; was any promise of reciprocal immunity from aerial attack by Germany on cities of the Allies obtained in consideration of such an undertaking; if he is aware that a church in Paris was bombarded on that day by the Germans; and will he give an assurance that no such unmerited favour to the enemy will be allowed to interfere with the prosecution of military operations in future?
§ 51. Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Prime Minister whether, when assenting to the request of the Vatican that there should be no air attack on Cologne on the feast of Corpus Christi, the attention of the Vatican was drawn to the shelling of Paris on Good Friday whereby casualties were inflicted on the congregation of a church, to the recent aerial bombardment of hospitals at Etaples, and to the air raid on London on Whit-Sunday night?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe appeal referred to was received by the French and British Governments, and the reply in the terms already announced was sent after consultation and in agreement with the French Government. The staff of the Air Ministry was also consulted. The action of the Germans in shelling Paris in spite of our undertaking will not be forgotten, in the event of any similar appeal being made in the future.
Sir F. HALLCan the right hon. Gentle man say whether any undertaking was given by the German Government that the aircraft used for the protection of the back areas should not be used for bombing our hospitals and troops on Corpus Christi Day?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt was precisely in connection with a question of this kind that we consulted the staff of the Air Ministry. They were of opinion that the use referred to could not be made, if for no other reason than that the notice was too short to enable other dispositions to be made.
§ Mr. McNEILLWhat reasons were advanced for this favour being shown to the enemy?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am afraid it would be rather difficult to give reasons for and against by question and answer. I am 1227 sure my hon. Friend will see that there is great deal to be said on both sides in regard to an appeal of this kind.
§ Mr. McNEILLWere the Government influenced by the fact that the Foreign Office is under the influence of the Vatican?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Foreign Office had really nothing to do with it. It was a decision taken by the War Cabinet after full consideration of all the relevant facts.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf the hon. Gentle man will look at the last part of my answer, I hope he will be satisfied.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMWill the House and the public have an opportunity of seeing the full correspondence in this matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere was no correspondence except the telegram conveying the request, and the announcement made in the Press as to our reply.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMHas the attention of the Vatican been drawn to the fact that on Whit-Sunday night London was bombed by German aircraft, and to other facts?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo; they were not. It is quite obvious that the Government would have been fully justified in view of the raids at Whitsuntide in refusing altogether to consider such an application. In addition to that, it seems to me an example of German mentality that such a request should have been put forward after what happened at Whitsuntide. Though I think it was an impudent request it does not follow that it would be unwise to accede to it.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Germans were asked to take reciprocal action to spare on that day other places behind the British lines, and, if not, why not?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThey were not. I should have thought that such a request was quite unnecessary. If we had made such a request it might have implied that we were making a bargain. We were not; we were doing this because we thought it was right to do it.
§ Mr. A. F. WHYTEHas the Government any information that the Vatican made a request to the German Government in regard to the bombardment of Paris on Good Friday?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe have no knowledge of any such representation having been made. Perhaps it is right to say that we have called the attention of the Vatican to what took place on Corpus Christi Day in Paris.