Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

740.00116 European War 1939/32a: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)

Washington, September 4, 1939—2 p.m.

In view of the President’s appeal of September 1, 1939, to the belligerents, and potential belligerents, to refrain from bombing other than strictly military objectives, it is desired that you insist upon the privilege of using your military attaché to inspect promptly by personal visit the scene of any bombing of a nonmilitary objective which may constitute a controversial case of disregard of the humane principle agreed to by the belligerents. It obviously will be necessary to eliminate from your investigations clear-cut cases of attack upon military objectives incidental to which there may have been loss of civilian life. Prompt factual reports are desired of observed cases of bombing of nonmilitary objectives.

Same to AmEmbassy, Paris, AmEmbassy, Berlin, and AmEmbassy, Warsaw.

Hull