Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-06

and claiming there the imnunit,s,
which that convention provides.
The powers Of the Red Cross =,
civilian relief are derived from sect;o.
8. paragraph S, Of its charter, which
reads as follows:
Fifth. And to continue and carry =,
system of national and internationaI
relief in time of peace. and apply tbs
same in mitigating the suferinrs
caused by pestilence. famine, Hrs
floods. and other great national caIa,
tiles, and to devise and carry on meas
ures for preventing the same.
This paragraph is the same IN s,h
stance as that contained in the cha,-
ter granted to the American Nations,
Red Cross predecessor OF the press,.
organization) on the 6th day of Juna
1900. In the reports which var,
made to the Senate (56th Cong i.
sess.. Rept. No. 39D and to the Houss
of Representatives (56th Cong, i,
sess., Rept. No. 1881 at the time tbs.
act of incorporation was presented hi.
section was described as
An article enlarging the work OF ~.
Red Cross to all cases OF national en-.
eign countries as the American amend.
ment.
And instances were cited unds.
which the still earlier organization haa
extended civilian relief both at horns
and abroad. The paragraph was he.
liberately inserted in order to exra,I
the corporate functions of the organ,
ization beyond the limited field Of ar.
tivity contemplated by the Geneva
Convention.
Although the language is:
To continue and carry on a svste-,
of national and international relief j.
time of peace.
| do not think the latter words are
| intended as limitation They ara
rather used as words OF contrast with
the paragraphs which precede. than AZ
words of restriction on the paragrapb
in which they occur. Without this 50.
/ called American amendment" the RED
Cross would have been an organic.
ton devoted solely to military RELIEF
BY this paragraph it's benevolence Il
extended not only to the soldier and
sailor but to the. unfortunate Civilian
as we'll. 1t cannot be supposed tina,
/ Congress intended that these mora
general charities should be conducted
only in time OF peace and that the
power of the corporation to pursue
them should automatically cease when
war, either at home or abroad, super.
vened. So, also. the enumeration o.
"pestilence, famine, fire, and foods"
did not exhaust the catalogue Of dis.
asters which the Red Cross might re.
lieve. On the contrary, there was add.
ed the catholic phrase other great ma.
tional calamities." This paragra ph, &C.
cordingly, seems 70 be ample warran.
for activity by the Red Cross in civilian
relief, whether in peace or war. II the
suffering Is so widespread as to he be.
yond the reach Of private and individ.
ual charity and to be truly great and
national in its scope. I cannot doubt,
therefore, the legal power of the Am.
erican National Red Cross to take at
this time such measures as may seem
proper for the relief of the suffering
and distressed civilian population Of
Europe; the purchase and forwarding
of food; the providing of seeds and az.
ricultural tools and implements. the
erection of shelters, the suppression ~
disease; the furnishing of medical sup.
plies and attention; and the rebuild
ing and reconstruction of homes ari
communities whether destroyed by he
act of God or man; always ohse;vr-
the clearly marked boundary bet" cen
military assistance and phi,an' hi M,
succor. The power is equal to The
need.
If there were any doubt of this, #
would nevertheless be true that none
of the signatories to the Geneva Con-
vention could complain Of such acts
on the part of the American National
Red Cross so long as they We're not
conducted in the theatre Of war I'm.
der the protection of the distinctive
international emblem. Whether they
are within or without the powers con.
ferred by the United States upon the
corporation is question for this gov.
eminent and for no foreign power.
Il am,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) JNO. W. DAVIS.