WAR AND LAWS OF HUMANITY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23965, 4 June 1943, Page 5

WAR AND LAWS OF HUMANITY

15 POPE’S ADDRESS TO CARDINALS g LONDON, June 2. i- "It is painful and regrettable to o note that often during this war the moral judgment of certain actions ?s n i n contrast with that of the rights n and laws of humanity," said the Pope i- when addressing members of the Cols. lege of Cardinals, who conveyed to ie him birthday wishes, e “The progressive application of war f. methods, making no discrimination hj between military and non-military is objectives, and the ever-growing vioe lence of the technique of war, draw s, attention to the dangers inherent in is the sad, Inexorable competition bes. tween actions and reprisals, to the n detriment not only of separate people 1- but the whole community of nations," )- he continued. "Since the beginning of g- the conflict we have done all in our power to induce the belligerents to _ respect the laws of humanity in the „ air war. We feel that it is our duty £to the advantage’of all, to exhort them , once again to observe these laws. “ ourselves in our messages to the ~ whole world, it is not and never was, n our intention to make accusations, but on the contrary to recall men to tf the path of virtue and faith. Our voice “ was the voice of a vigilant sentinel created by God to protect the human family.” His Holiness declared that his f thoughts and affection went out to the small nations who, because of their ie geographical or political situation and the fact that moral rules and international law were now no longer obeyed, risked being drawn into the quarrels of big Powers and seeing l * their territories become theatres of devastating struggles, of indescribable horrors, and of the massacre of n their youth and intellectuals. n “We pray that the Poles, who are n so cruelly tried, and other nations e which have had to drink a bitter cup P in this war, may have reserved for £ ‘ them a future in conformity with their legitimate aspirations and the P greatness of their sacrifices in Europe, renewed on a Christian basis.” e it