THE LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17940, 20 May 1920, Page 9

THE LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES.

CONFERENCE AT GENEVA. Mr Bernard Tripp, New Zealand delegate at the Conference of the League of Red Cross Societies at Geneva., writes to us: — "The International Conference of the League of Bed. Cross Societies terminated at Genera to-day (March 10). Delegates were present from 27 nations. The conference was a groat success, and much enthusiasm was shown. Mr Waldegrave, the New Zealand Red Cross Commissioner in London, will post a full report to the Central Red Cross, Wellington, but as I am one of the delegates I am writing this, giving the main points agreed on by £he conference, EO the people of New Zealand will understand exactly the objects of the league. . "Ist. —The International Committee or the Red Cross Societies is for war work only. The League of Red Cross Societies is for peace work. The British Red Cross proposes to .alter its constitution to give the present committees power to form themselves into International Red Cross Societies for war work or League of Red Cross Societies for peace, in order to carry out the work of either society. "2nd.—Finance ■ The league has enough money in hand for at least two years without calling on any country to subscribe. If New Zealand joins the league, as I sincerely hope she will, she will be asked in two years' time to find her quota, which will be small. The council hae not yet decided on what form the quota shall be fixed. "3rd.—The league wishes to leave the internal management of Red Cross societies in each country to themselves, to make what arrangements and rules they libs. It was suggested privately that each delegate who attended the Geneva conference should have a seat on the executive in the country he represents when he returns home. This will help to keep the objects of the league before them. . .

"4fch.—'One week a year is to be set aside in every country for an appeal for membership of the League of the Red Cross. This appeal is »to bo held in the month of May every year. "sth. — The objeots of the League of the Red Cross are recognised in the Covenant of the League of Nations, which reads aa follows: —'The members of the league agree to encourage and promote the establishment and co-operation of duly authorised -voluntary national Red Cross organisations, havingl as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, a.nd the mitigation of suffering throughout the world.' "6th.—The League of the Red Cross in eaoh country is not to interfere or take over existing societies already working for the benefit of mankind, but to offer to help them with finance and organisation. The league is to try to obtain better living conditions for workers on land and ssa; to look after child welfare; help with district nurses. In fact, they are t<? take up any object that they think will be a benefit to humanity in all the countries of the world.

"I feel sure I am expressing the sentiments of every delegate who was present at the Geneva conference when I sav the League of the Red Cross will do more to promote good feeling between nations, do away with class feeling, and prevent future wars than any scheme that has suggested in the history of the world."