We publish this week some letters supporting the arguments which
we used in the Spectator of September 26th about the lost rules of war. We sincerely hope that it will be possible for Red Cross help to be given to the Rifs. It is said that they have practically no medical service and the absence of it must be terribly felt in a war of this kind in which villages are freely bombed. It is being asked why the League of Nations does nothing in a matter of pure humanity. But though there may be no final excuse for this _inactivity there is at least an explanation.. The Rifs are not recognized as belligerents ; they are only rebels, and technically they can be dealt with only through the suzerain Power, which is France. An attempt to remove such technical difficulties might take years. We do not propose to enter upon such a subject. We only say that as the French are a brave and generous people it is incon- ceivable to us that if voluntary medical service is still offered to the Rifs the French Government will refuse to let then' have the benefit of it.
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