THE RED CROSS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 129, 29 February 1928, Page 5

THE RED CROSS

ITS WORK IN PEACE TIME FIFTY-FOUR NATIONAL SOCIETIES The Red Cross, “symbol of human compassion,” as the ’ chairman called it, was the subject of an address to the Rotary Chib by’ General H. B. Cbanipaiij, secretary-general to the British Red Cross Society, vesterday. The Red Cross had its origin as far back at 1850', following the battle of Solferina, said General Chanipain. A Swiss citizen had called together some of his fellow-citizens to discuss methods of alleviating suffering on the battlefield. Following this an international convention had been called and the Geneva Convention signed. In compliment to Switzerland, the emblem adopted had been the reverse of the Swiss emblem, which was a white cross on a red ground, and this was recognised as a symbol of neutrality. The Boer War. Prior to the Boer War, England had possessed no trained members of a Red Cross organisation, and when the world war broke out there had been only a body to assist territorials in event of invasion. During the war thousands had been trained and sent overseas, and afterwards Red Cross societies had sprung up all over the world. At the close of the struggle there had been a vast organisation with a great personnel and big funds. Then, at the instigation of Mr. Henry Davison, the head of the American Red Cross, a meeting had been held and it was decided to extend their activities to peace-time. The proposal had been put before the League of Nations and in article 23 of the Covenant of the League was a recommendation to the various governments to encourage peace-time organisations of the Red Cross for the benefit of the nation and the alleviation of suffering. Fifty-four Nations.

There were now 54 national societies, and the organisation was controlled by a board of governors which met every second or third vear in Paris and on which every nation was represented. Attention to ex-servicemen still remained the first consideration of the societies, but gradually it must lessen, and then they would be able to give the whole of their efforts to peace-time work. A fine idea had originated in Italy, and that was the idea of relief in cases of national disaster. It was suggested that each government of the League of Nations should contribute a small amount annually to a fund which should be centrally administered and available in cases such as the Japanese earthquake, the. Mississippi floods, or the influenza epidemic. Each country was now forming its ideas as to what it would do.