Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-26
STATUS OF THE RED CROSS.
How Provisions Of Geneva Interna-
tionaI Convention Treaty Ahect IT.

New York Times)
The publication Of the war ana Navy
Department orders defining the provis-
ions of the Geneva international ConVeh-
ton treaty, and ..escribing the conditions
under which neutrals will be appointed
and recognized. has created considerable
discussion in army and navy circles, ana
among the various hospital and rellel as
sociations. The department ORDERS "hiSn
prohibit any person whatever wearing 'ho
Red Cross brassart without express pei
mission of the government. was con
strued by many to mean that the Ma
tional Red Cross Society is not recos-
nized officially by the government.
Stephen E. Barton, vice-presldent Oh
the society. in defining the position Oh
the society. said yesterday: 1T is tact
that bv the stipulations of the Geneva
treaty the Red Cross brassart was adopt
cd simply as a badge of neutrality, which
becomes such only when 1t Is properly
vised by the division commanders or the
armies in which it is used. Sucn pauSes
are vised for limited length OF time.
.eRut the Geneva convention further
stimulates that there shall be formed III
each country participating In the treaty
a committee whose duty 1t shall De- III
time of war, TO cooperate IN every way
nossible with the Sanitary Service OIL the
army. The committee, consisting ol
thirty-fve members, was formed as SUN
IA constitutes the National Red Cross
Society. This committee has been recog-
nized by the government to the extent
of being delegated to represent the
United States at each Of the quadrennldI
International Red Cross conventions helu
in Geneva. a.,s hovover
the Red Cross corps would nave 10 pe
nrovided with the Red Cross ihslsnia
under precisely the same conoitions aa
anv other neutral, civil, or miiitaty
What is known as the National heu CiVSs
cocietv Is. strictly speaking, an IN
SononIent organization, and cannot De
considered at all times as being actuaiIy
In the service of the government.
sImnIv nlaces itself at the service OF the
| army or navy for cooperation. =.
"At the outbreak of the present war
| ornounced formally to the President thd'
| n held itself In readiness to lend assist
| ance to the Medical Corps In the heiu
Its chiefs will keep as near as posslplt
| 10 the scenes of prospective hostiltles
and IN case the Medical Corps OF tht
army should need assistance II Is pre-
sumed that the National Red-Cross 80
| cietv will be called upon first afterwaru
| any humanitarian organization, or lhui
| yidual might be called upon 10 assist II
| the work, and would then be furnishe'
| With the Red Cross brassart properly
| vised. The organization Of the supple
mentary hospital and ambulance work II
| other countries, however, is left entire
| Iv in the hands of the National Red
Cross societies and 1t is believed Una
such will be1the course pursued by TN
United States in this war"
A telegram was received by the Cubar
| Central Relief Committee yesterday from
Miss Clara Barton, announcing that th'
relief-ship State of Texas had arrived a
Tampa at noon yesterday, from Key
West, and that Miss Barton had peer
summoned to Washington. She will b'
met there probably tomorrow oy Cnair
man Barton and DR.. A. NJ. Lesser. OF tn
Red Cross Society, when conference
will be held with the department officials
1t is believed that the conference relates
TO the early departure Of the army O
invasion. which will be accompanied u
Cuba by the relief-ship.
A letter from Miss Barton to the chi
nese Minister to the United States wa
Yesterday made public by the Red cross
organization in this city. The letter Il
written in answer to a request That tn
| suffering Chinese in Cuba be looked afte
when the relief-ship arrives there Mis-
Barton assures the Minister that the SUI
fering Cinnamon will be treated as IN
| needy of other nationalities, the Re-
Cross Society, as a benevolent organiza
tIon. knowing mo nationality, creed, sex
| or sect