852.00/8079
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador called on his own request and handed me an aide-mémoire, as per the attached copy.71 This was in reply to some inquiries propounded to the Ambassador some days ago by Mr. Welles in connection with the British invitation to this Government to become a member of a commission to ascertain and publish facts concerning bombings from the air in Spain.
I thanked the Ambassador and then added that we have not been able to decide whether the proposal is entirely practical; that it has its drawbacks and undesirable phases; and that this Government is giving attention to the entire proposal, in its world-wide aspects, by reviewing the subject from all angles and assembling current facts with regard to the bombing of civilian populations from the air. I went on to say that this Government has not made any decision with respect to the situation, but is continuing to observe, with keen interest, all phases of developments with respect to the bombing of civilian populations both in Spain and China. I then added that, of course, Great Britain is becoming more and more personally concerned about the Spanish situation on account of the bombing of so many British ships, while this Government is only concerned from a humanitarian standpoint, [Page 214] and this renders it important that we should visualize and formulate policy with regard to the situation both in Spain and in China, as already stated. With American educational buildings being razed by Japanese bombings, and no injury to American properties in Spain by similar agencies, it is manifest that we should consider policy with respect to the entire situation. I finally remarked that we would continue our investigations and assembling of facts with regard to the question presented and would consider the British aide-mémoire as a part of the same. The Ambassador did not take issue with what I said. I think he feels that we have virtually declined the British invitation, but are letting the matter be somewhat long drawn out in order that it may be disposed of gradually.
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