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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 1188.PDF
1190 FLIGHT. NOVEMBER 15, 1934. and most immediate danger was from the air. Mr. Lloyd George said that children would be in the front line next time, liable to be killed and mutilated by the same bombs, and liable to be strangled with the same poisonous fumes as their parents. We have often expressed our regret that the League of Nations has not put in the forefront of its programme a severe condemnation of chemical warfare and of de- liberate attacks on civilian populations. There are cynics in plenty who say that it is no use to make such agreements because they are bound to be broken in time of war. Many times we have given reasons based on history for the belief that international rules of war- fare, provided that they are sensibly framed and aim at avoiding atrocities but do not attempt to deprive a belligerent of his legitimate rights, are generally observed in war. It would be no use to forbid all bombing from the air, for that would be an unreasonable demand, and it would be disregarded at once by both sides. Reason- able rules are usually kept, partly from innate feelings of humanity, which still survive in most parts of Europe, and partly from fear of reprisals. Of course, if a nation becomes a criminal lunatic, either from the insolence which believes that no reprisals are possible or from desperation, then there is no foretelling what it will do. Nevertheless, an emphatic disavowal of chemical war- fare and of deliberate attacks on civilians by the League of Nations would certainly have had great effect. Bntain s Duty BEFORE 1914 one of the greatest influences for peacewas the British Navy. Its unchallenged poweraverted not a few wars. In recent years Great Britain has been in no position to coerce peace. We have now decided to abandon the policy of helplessness, and it was since that determination was taken that the Prince of Wales remarked that the Royal Air Force, together with the Navy and the Army, '' makes for con- fidence, not only throughout the Empire, but through- out the world—a confidence which is of vital importance, and will continue to be of vital importance until the make-up of the world changes very radically." A well- armed Britain makes for peace in the world, not for war. Mr. Churchill drew attention to the reduced capacities of the firms which can make arms for our forces, and asserted that other nations are far ahead of us in this sort of preparedness. It is a serious matter. Our air- craft firms, in particular, ought to be in a position to increase their output at short notice if ever the need should arise As the Government recognises that a strong Britain is an influence which makes for peace, it is the obvious duty of the Government to see to it that we are as strong as possible in this very vital element of strength. THE SWASTIKA IN PARIS. A scene in the Grand Palais while preparations were being made for the openingOf the Fourteenth International Aero Exhibition, which opens to-morrow. The machine in the foreground is a German Junkers. A forecast of the exhibits appears in this issue, on pages 1193 and 1194.
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