HC Deb 27 September 1939 vol 351 cc1310-2
2. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the ad visability of proposing to the German Government that an approach should be made to the leading neutral States with a view to the appointment of a neutral com mission which could immediately proceed to the scene of any alleged bombing of civilians, so that a report could be presented stating whether, in the opinion of the commission, the bombing was de liberate or accidental; and whether he will furtherpropose that the belligerent Governments should be asked to give a pledge not to undertake reprisals until the report has been received, and not at all if the killing was held to be accidental?

3. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether, following President Roosevelt's further appeal with a view to safeguarding the lives of non- combatants as a result of aerial attack, His Majesty's Government will consider sympathetically ex-President Hoover's proposal for the establishment of a neutral fact-finding commission to investigate all air raids involving civilian populations?

Mr. Butler

While His Majesty's Government have every sympathy with the objects of this proposal and with that made by ex-President Hoover, they consider that the difficulties ofbringing the scheme into operation and of its functioning successfully would be almost insuperable. I would remind the House of what the Prime Minister said on 14th September that, whatever be the lengths to which others may go, His Majesty's Government will never resort to deliberate attack on women, children or other civilians for purposes of mere terrorism.

Mr. Mander

In view of the tremendous interests involved, does the right hon. Gentleman not think it worth while making an attempt, to see how far it may be successful?

Mr. Butler

We have had some experience of that sort of commission before, and, on that experience and on reconsideration, it seems that the difficulties would be almost insuperable.

Mr. A. Henderson

Has President Roosevelt made any protest to the German Government following the bombing of the civilian population in Poland?

Mr. Butler

I cannot say.

4. Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement concerning the bombing of Krzemieniec by German aircrafton 15th September and the action of the Diplomatic Corps led by the Papal Nuncio, Monsignor Cortesi, in asking their Governments to protest to Berlin?

Mr. Butler

His Majesty's Ambassador was at one period resident in the town in question, and reports that it was deliberately bombed with many casualties on 12th September. It then contained only the headquarters of the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Corps Diplomatique, there being no military objective. I assume this is the occasion to which the hon. Member is referring. My Noble Friend has seen a report of the action described in the second part of the question.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will the Government consider asking a body of impartial neutral persons of high authority to consider the evidence concerning the German bombing of Poland and to report whether it was not a violation of all the principles of international law?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. I do not think that that is necessary. We have already ample evidence before us of indiscriminate bombing, and if any neutral evidence were required I would refer the hon. Member to an interview given in Paris by the United States Ambassador in Poland, in which he described his own personal experience of seeing indiscriminate bombing taking place.

Mr. A. Henderson

Would not such a report bring home to the German people the fact that such bombing was taking place?

Mr. Butler

That is why I referred to the evidence of an independent witness, the United States Ambassador in Poland, as to the experience he had himself undergone.

37 and 38. Mr. Noel-Baker

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (1) whether he can make a statement concerning the bombing of Vilna by German aircraft on 15th September and the number of civilians who were killed;

(2) whether he can make a statement concerning the total destruction of Siedlce by German aircraft and the burning of Lublin by incendiary bombs?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Sir Edward Grigg)

The Government's direct sources of information in Poland have, of course, been restricted and my Noble Friend has no first-hand information on the events with which the questions are concerned. He is, however, in a position to state that other reports in the Government's possession are not inconsistent with the suggestions made by the hon. Member with regard to the bombing and destruction of the towns to which he refers.