THE FAR EAST RELIEF FUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23353, 19 November 1937, Page 6

THE FAR EAST RELIEF FUND

AN APPEAL FROM GENEVA The appeal to New Zealand for assistance in the relief of distress and for the sick and wounded in China comes directly from the International Red Cross Committee of Geneva, through the League of Red Cross Societies In Paris. The organisation of the Red Cross is the result of an international treaty known among nations as the "Treaty of Geneva” or the "Geneva Convention” of 1864. This convention equally binds Japan, China, Great Britain, and her dominions, as well as the other nations of the world, by its international code, and all the efforts of national Red Cross organisations sending assistance to combatants on either side, come under a neutral flag, the Geneva Red Cross. "Wars,” said Clara Barton, the Florence Nightingale of America, “are largely the result of unbridled passions; that universal treaty of Geneva binding every war, making power to wholesome restraints, pledging it to humanity, and holding it responsible to the entire world, is the bit in the mouth, the curb in the neck, of the war horse; and while it holds out the measure of oats in the one hand, it carries the bridle in the other. It constitutes a peace society which cannot be sneered at in counsel, nor ignored in war. It is one of the thresholds to the temple of peace. It makes war upon and plucks out the old-time barbarities of war, its needless restrictions and cruelties, and finally, in effect, ends by teaching war to make war upon itself.” The International Red Cross Committee of Geneva is the duly-consti-tuted instrument for carrying out the provisions of the Geneva Treaty. It has been said that the spirit of the Red Cross led President Wilson to conceive the formation of the League of Nations. By the Twentyfifth Article of the Covenant of the League of Nations, to which New Zealand is a signatory, each of the adhering States is pledged to encourage and promote the establishment of dulyauthorised voluntary national Red Cross organisations, having as their purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world. The League of Red Cross Societies of Paris is the duly-constituted authority recognised by the League of Nations for this purpose. Thus it will be seen that New Zealand, having been definitely asked by the duly-constituted authorities, under two treaties, is in honour bound to shoulder its humanitarian obligations in the present conflict in China. Surely New Zealand will not fail the first international appeal made to it. Its honour is too deeply involved. Signed: E. T. COX. Mayor of Dunedin: V. G. BRYAN KING, Red Cross; ALEX. R. FALCONER, . Order of St. John.

Subscription lists have already been opened at the office of this paper Und at the Town Hall. We have received £3 from "Two Friends ” lor this fund.

THE NATIONAL APPEAL OVER £I2OO RECEIVED (Per United Press Association) -WELLINGTON, Nov. lb The amount received to date in the national appeal conducted by the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society is £1213 6s lOd. This was the report of the national secretary (Mr C. Meachen) at to-day’s meeting of the council at Wellington Advice had been received nrior to the meeting that the approximate amounts raised in other centres would bring the total lo date to £2039 13s 4d. . The chairman o< the council 'Sir James Elliott) presided. DONATIONS ACKNOWLEDGED The honorary treasurer of the Far East Relief Fund Committee acknowledges receipt of t' ; following donations*:—

£ s. d. Previously acknowledged . , 148 19 O “A Friend ” 1 0 0 .. 1 1 0 L, L 1 1 0 M L .. 1 1 0 J. P. L .. 1 1 0 .. 1 1 0 Lanes, Ltd. .. 5 5 0 “ Conscience ” .. - .. .. 1 Amalgamated Engineering 0 0 and Allied Trades Union .. 2 2 0 Total £163 11 6