The Red Cross in Peace and War

by Clara Barton

The American National Red Cross, incorporated under the laws of the United States for the District of Columbia, constitutes the sole legitimate and recognized local branch in this country of the great international association, of which the International Committee of Berne is the head. Of its conspicuous peaceful services in time of national suffering at home and abroad, it is superfluous to speak. Its relation to the military and naval hospital service in time of war is now under consideration. Under the terms of the Geneva conventions, its aid may be powerfully given to the military and naval armies, with the added prestige which belongs to it as the American branch of the International Red Cross. By the terms of the Geneva Convention of 1864, the participation of its agents in the active ambulance and hospital service of the armies and naval forces of the United States is effected through the express neutralization of its individual workers by the military and naval authorities and the issuance to them of the stipulated armlet bearing the sign of the Red Cross. Its assistance, however, is not limited to this individual employment of its agents in the field; it stands ready to co-operate in the equipment and supply of ambulances and medical stores, drawing for its resources on the benevolence of the community and systematizing effort and aid throughout the country by the various local committees it has organized.

By Article II of the protocol of the Geneva Conference of 1863, which created the International Committee of Berne and its associated national committees, each National Central Committee is to enter into relations with the government of its country so that its services may be accepted if occasion should present itself, and by Article III, on being called upon, or with the assent of the military authorities, the respective Central Committee is to send volunteer nurses to the field of battle, there to be placed under the orders of the commanding officer. These articles sufficiently show the character of the aid to be rendered in time of war by the widespread organization of which the International Committee of Berne is the head.

There is pending in Congress at the present time an act to legitimize the national status of the American National Red Cross and to protect its exclusive use of the insignia of the Red Cross for the work it was organized to perform, and its early passage is expected. Indeed, it would probably have become a law before now but for a need of a slight amendment which this Department has advised. The purpose of that act has the President’s cordial approval.

In referring to me the annexed letter from the special committee of the American National Red Cross Relief Committee the President has requested me to take such steps as may be necessary and effective to recognize the American National Red Cross as the proper and sole representative in the United States of the International Committee, and, as such, corresponding to the central committees which have been constituted in the several States which have adhered to the Geneva Convention. So far as international correspondence with the Swiss Government in relation to the deliberations of the Geneva Conference is concerned, this government has uniformly recognized the American National Red Cross as the only civil body in the United States which is regularly affiliated with the International Committee of Berne for the purpose of carrying out the arrangements elaborated by the various conferences held at Geneva, and the representatives of the American National Red Cross at those conferences have uniformly attended with the sanction of the United States Government. No additional recognition or sanction is needed in that quarter.

I have therefore the honor to inform you, by direction of the President, that this government recognizes, for any appropriate co-operative purposes, the American National Red Cross as the Civil Central American Committee in correspondence with the International Committee for the relief of the wounded in war and to invite similar recognition of its status by your department with a view to taking advantage of its proffered aid during the present war so far as may be available.

Respectfully yours,
William R. Day,
Secretary of State.

The foregoing letter from the Secretary of State defines the position of the American National Red Cross, as uniformly recognized by the Government of the United States, and by the International Committee representing all the treaty nations. The treaty contemplates that there shall be in each country one national organization of the Red Cross, with power to organize an unlimited number of subordinate branches, or auxiliaries, all directly tributary to the national body. As the personnel and equipment of the Red Cross are expressly neutralized and protected by the treaty, it was essential to the security of all, that the civil power and responsibility should be concentrated. It was for this reason that the president of the International Committee, in his letter of March 24, 1882, urged that:

It is important that we be able to certify that your government is prepared to accept your services in case of war; that it will readily enter into co-operation with you and will encourage the centralization, under your direction, of all voluntary aid.

We have no doubt that you will readily obtain, from the competent authorities, an official declaration to that effect, and we believe this matter will be merely a formality; but we attach the greatest importance to the fact, in order to cover our responsibility, especially in view of the pretensions of rival societies which might claim to be acknowledged by us. It is your society and none other that we will recognize.

It will be seen that, in the opinion of the International Committee, not recognition alone, but cordial co-operation on the part of the government is of vital importance. In each country, the National Red Cross, or national committee as it is sometimes called, is the only civil medium contemplated by the treaty, through which the people of the respective countries may lawfully communicate with the armies in the field, for the purpose of rendering such auxiliary medical and hospital service, and other relief, as may be required. It must be constantly born in mind, in order to clearly understand the operations of the Red Cross, that our government and the people are bound, not only by the solemn provisions of the treaty, but also by the resolutions of the international conferences, composed of delegates authorized by their respective governments. Thus, the Secretary of State in his letter says: