fundamental desire to work for the development of the Red Cross in the largest conception of the idea and to work without rivalry in their respective fields for the relief of suffering humanity." It is perhaps unfortunate that the resolution was not more clearly worded, for while the League understood that, under the terms of the resolution, the duties of dealing with matters of public health, and especially of epidemics, and of co-ordinating the efforts of national Societies. in case of grave calamities, were to be enstruted to its care, the Comité took a different view. As a consequence of this divergence of opinion, the national Societies have received almost simultaneously, from both the Comité and the League, appeals in favour of the same object. And, further, in a communiqué issued to the press, on the occasion of the Assembly of the League of Nations in December 1920, the Comité has stated that included in its peace duties are those of occupying itself with victims of the war, of sickness, and of civil calamities, and its intention. to take part in peace work such as the struggle against exanthematic typhus was openly announced. ** The difficulty, of which much has been made, that the League, being not yet universal, some organisation is required to co-ordinate the peace time efforts of the Red Cross Societies of the Central Powers which are not yet admitted to the League, is not of much importance. In the first place, it is a temporary difficulty, and in the second there can be no objection to the administration of the League in the performance of its duty, offering service to and accepting service from Societies which are not among its members. The League can properly co-operate, even intimately, in good works, with a Society to which it may not yet be prepared to offer an equal share and right in its government. * ** The formation of the League of the Red Cross has not interfered with any function previously exercised by the « Comité International ». During the six decades of its existence, the Comité has been the guardian of the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and has sought to spread these principles throughout the world. It has spoken boldly on behalf on the weak and oppressed; it has protested against injustice; it has been ready to serve as a disinterested mediator. It is to its work in these fields that the Comité owes its position and its prestige; such work has hitherto been considered sufficient both in usefulness and dignity. The claim of the « Comité International » to organise and co-ordinate the peace work of the Red Cross Societies dates from the hour when these societies organised another body to fulfil these very duties. * ** While, therefore, we may await with confidence "the possibility of an organic connection between the two Societies ", it is none the less desirable that the national Red Cross Societies should, through their delegates at the International Conference of 1921, define with some clearness the respective duties of these two central organisations which exist only by their will and for their service. David HENDERSON. Director General of the League of Red Cross Societies. NEWS OF THE LEAGUE OFFICIAL NEWS At the instigation of the League various national Red Cross Societies have, as is known, undertaken a campaign against epidemic diseases in Poland since 1919. The following resolution was passed by the Assembly of the League of Nations during the Meeting held in Geneva in December 1920: "That an urgent and an immediate appeal should be made by the Assembly to all the countries of the world for an adequate fund for prosecuting an effective campaign against the epidemic diseases, espe cially typhus and cholera, in Eastern Europe, beginning with Poland as a centre, and that the Office International d'Hygiène Publique, the Comité International de la Croix Rouge and the League of Red Cross Societies should be earnestly sought to co-operate with the League of Nations in this matter." During the same Session, the Assembly of the League of Nations undertook the creation of technical organisations and especially of an international health organisation. The resolution regarding the formation of the technical Committee of this organisation provides that the former shall consist of four members of those permanently represented on the Council of the League together with five other members chosen by the General Committee, and those five have to be selected with due regard to geographical considerations as well as to the scientific attainments of those members. Then those have to be added to by, first, the Chairman of the General Committee, second, a member selected by the League of Red Cross Societies, and third, one nominated by the International Labour Organisation. The Council of the League of Nations decides to invite the League of Red Cross Societies to undertake to provide the personnel, organisation and supplies necessary in order to secure that proper care is taken of the health of the troops proceeding to the territory in dispute between Following this resolution, the League of Nations issued to every Government an appeal on behalf of the campaign against typhus in Eastern Europe, recalling likewise the fact that the Assembly of the League of Nations had requested the League of Red Cross Societies to continue its assistance. In the next number of the Bulletin further reference to this subject will be found. (Ed. Note). Poland and Lithuania. The Council does not anticipate that these troops will under any circumstances engage in military operations. For this purpose, the Council requests Brigadier General Olive, Colonel Requin and Colonel Benites to consult with the League of Red Cross Societies regarding the staff and material which will be needed. It requests the League of Red Cross Societies to forward as soon as possible its observations on the subject, particularly as to the estimated expenditure. Complying with the request of the Council of the League of Nations, the League of Red Cross Societies is undertaking measures for the protection of the health of the International Police Force, which it is proposed to send to Vilna for police duty in the region in dispute between Poland and Lithuania. Colonel Henry A. Shaw, of the League of Red Cross Societies, is at Vilna to arrange certain preliminaries, such as hospitalisation and sanitary protection for this Force, with Colonel Chardigny, the Head of the Plebiscite Commission of the League of Nations. The American Red Cross has sent to the League of Red. Cross Societies 500,000 articles of under-clothing and woollen goods which have been made over, and 100,000 pairs of rubber gloves intended for the anti-epidemic campaign in Central and Eastern Europe. This gift is valued at 650,000 dollars. A great portion of the above mentioned articles has already been received. The Danish Red Cross Society being itself unable to respond to the appeal sent out by the League on behalf of the campaign against epidemics, has, however, wished to prove the great interest it takes in this campaign by bringing it to the notice of other voluntary organisations. This effort has resulted in the organisation of the "Dannebrog" ambulance, which is destined to combat the epidemics of typhus and cholera which are rampant in Poland as a result of constant passing to and fro of armies during and after the war. The personnel of the ambulance, consisting of four doctors, ten nurses, one manager, one chemist and several Polish employees, is in charge of a director appointed by the Committee of Copenhagen. The ambulance is amply provided with medical supplies and stock of food, especially sugar and fat, of which there is a great shortage in Poland 1. 1 In its next issue the Bulletin will give further details regarding the Dannebrog "ambulance with accompanying photographs. The League of Red Cross Societies The League is composed of national Red Cross Societies belonging to the following countries: HENRY P. DAVISON, American Red Cross, Chairman. M DE LA BOULINIÈRE, French Red Cross COUNT GIUSEPPE FRASCARA, Senator, Italian Red Cross. COUNT DE PENA RAMIRO, Spanish Red Cross. Dr. F. BLOCK, Swedish Red Cross. Dr. M. CALMON DU PIN E ALMEIDA, Brazilian Red Cross. Dr. E. ANDREAE, Argentine Red Cross. Dr. A. DEPAGE, Senator, Belgian Red Cross. The VISCOUNTESS NOVAR, Australian Red Cross. Dr. F. SVENDSEN, Danish Red Cross. Dr. YEVREM ZUJOVIĆ, Serbian Red Cross. M. R. B. BENNETT, Canadian Red Cross. SIR DAVID HENDERSON, Director General, Vice-Chairman. The above order of names follows the date of appointment The Bulletin of the League of Red Cross Societies is published in English, French, Italian and Spanish by the Department of Publicity and Publication of the League, 2, rue de la Scie, Geneva, Switzerland. Telegraphic address: LICROSS. Teleph.: 49-49. |