RED CROSS IN WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 3, 28 September 1939, Page 3

RED CROSS IN WAR

World-Wide Activities

CABLES TO NEW ZEALAND Cable messages received by the Dominion headquarters of the Red Cross Society in the last few days have shown ths world-wide ramifications and scope of the society in both neutral and belligerent lands.

From England comes the news that a joint appeal for funds on behalf of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John has been signed by the Duke of Gloucester and will be published in the British Press. A few days later it was announced that the Lord Mayor of London and the resources of Mansion House had taken charge of the Red Cross and St. John joint appeal. The Lord Mayor asked for the co-operation of all lord mayors and mayors and all county Red Gios> officials to make the appeal nation-wide. ‘•We shall be grateful for all the assistance you can give at the earliest moment to civic authorities to make the appeal the greatest success possible,” read the message, which was sent out in the name of Lord Cromer, chairman of tlie joint committee. Cabled advice from Geneva dated September 11 khows the unique status of life Red Cross Society as tlie universally accepted neutral intermediary in caring for sick, suffering and distressed peoples of all nationalities. Lhe message read: ‘‘We inform you that we have cabled your Government today as folhwys: ‘Profoundly desirous of accomplishing to tlie best' of its ability its humanitarian task, the International Red Cross Committee places itself at the disposal of the New Zealand Government in all cases where the action of a neutral intermediary, according to the Red Cross tradition, would be useful. Explanatory letter follows concerning our modus operandi. including tlie creation of central Geneva agency provided for in Article <0 of the Convention, July 27, 1921). We commend this letter to your special attention. We are sending tlie same message to all Governments which would be involved in the present conflict. We count on you to facilitate our humanitarian action in the present circumstances. Explanatory letter fpllows. We offer co-opera-tion in all circumstances.’ ” This is substantiated by a second cable stating that the Red Cross International committee “desires to appeal to you and your sister societies inorder to obtain their aid. Transmission

their gifts will be assured by International Coinniittee.” On behalf of a neutral country a further message scut Io New Zealand from Geneva states: “The American Red Cross spontaneously offers help If you accept please specify tlie exacl nature of the materials and medical supplies most necessary.”