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 Guernica, Basque Country, bombed in 1937. Photograph: Imagno/Getty Images

Our special correspondent now in Madrid sends us a graphic account of the bombardment which makes it easy to realise the brutal thoroughness of totalitarian warfare. One can welcome any international action which might be taken to mitigate the horrors of this merciless war. The difficulty is to obtain agreement from both sides to accept and to respect international arrangements. General Franco has said: “Madrid will have to be destroyed district by district, no matter how much I regret it.” At one time in November he chose and respected a Madrid safety zone, but the Government said it was impossible to move the whole civilian population into a few streets; when the International Red Cross suggested a neutral zone in Madrid the Government reply was that “it was tantamount to admitting that the bombardment of the remainder of the civil population was a legal act.” For his part, General Franco could argue that a safety zone would be used as a centre for military stores and weapons. But the presence of neutral observers would be an answer to this last objection.

Meanwhile there should be no objection to the British navy assisting the evacuation of the non-combatants from Bilbao, and it would no doubt in any case afford protection outside the three-mile limit to British ships engaged in the work of evacuation. The Home Secretary has agreed to admit Basque refugee children to this country if funds are available for their maintenance. A country which has been generous to political refugees in the past will not hesitate to come to the help of these unfortunate children.