LAWS OF HUMANITY

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1943, Page 2

LAWS OF HUMANITY

IN AIR WARFARE Pope Urges Observance [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, June 2. Pope Plus XII addressed the College of Cardinals, who conveyed to him birthday wishes. The Pope said: •‘lt is painful and regrettable to note that often during this war the moral judgment of certain actions has been in contrast with that of the rights and laws of humanity. The progressive application of war methods, making no discrimination between military and non-military objectives, and the ever-growing violence of the technique of war draws attention to the dangers inherent in this sad, inexorable competition between actions and reprisals to the detriment, not o'' i or separate people, but also of the whole community of nations. .'•mce the beginning of 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 it our duty to the advantage of all, to exhort them once again to observe these laws. In saying this and in addressing ourselves in our messages to the whole world, it is not and never was our intention to make accusations, but, on the contrary, to recall men to 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 thoughts and affection went out to the small nations, who owifig to their geographical and political situation and to the fact that the moral rules and international law were no longer obeyed, risked being drawn into the •quarrels of the Big Powers and, seeing their territories theatres of devastating struggles of indescribable horrors and the massacre of their youth and intellectuals. “We pray that the Poles, who have been so cruelly tried, and also other nations who have had to drink the bitter cup in this war may have reserved for them a future, in conformity with their legitimate aspirations and the greatness of their sacrifices, in Europe renewed on a Christian basis.”