The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1919-09-13
RED CROSS LEAGUE
FULF|LLMENT Of
AMERICAN IDEAL
Formed in Paris With Five
Founder Members-24 Ma
lions Asked to Join.

The alignment of the Red Crosses
of five great nations and the incorpora-
ton of an article in the covenant Of
the League of Nations, recognizing the
League of Red Cross Societies and ap-
proving its aim, has been hailed the
world over as the fulfllment of an
American ideal and as a universal
answer to the question "Did the val
pay?"
The League of Red Cross Societies
was officially formed in Paris on May
8 when authorized representatives Of
Red Cross Societies of America, Great
Britain, France, Italy and Japan signed
the articles of association. The sign
ers constitute the board of governors
Of the league. Henry P. Dawson, the
representative of the American Red
Cross, is the chairman Of the board
which eventually is to consist of a
maximum membership of fifteen. Lieu
tenant General Sir David Henderson,
who played a prominent part in build
ing up the British air service, has been
appointed director general of the
league. W. Frank Persons, formerly
director general of Civilian Relief Of
the American Red Cross, has been
named as director of development.
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bra
I'll, Canada, Chilli, China, Cuba, Den
mark, Greece, Holland, India, New
Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal; Rou-
mania. Serbia, South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and
Eventually, it is expected, the league
will include the Red Cross Societies
of all nations of the world.
objects of the League.
The object of the league as officially
set forth are as follows:
AS set forth in the article of associa-
ton, the objects of the League of Red
Cross Societies are
I. To encourage and promote in
every country in the world the estab-
lishment and development Of duly au-
thorized voluntary National Red Cross
organizations, having as their purpose
the improvement of health, prevention
of disease and mitigation of suffering
throughout the world and to secure the
cooperation Of such organizations for
these purposes.
2. To promote the welfare of man.
bringing within reach of all people
the benefits to be derived from present
known facts and new contributions to
science and medical knowledge and
their application.
While the relations Of the League of
Red Cross Societies with the League Of
Nations will be intimate, there will be
no statutory connection as the League
of Red Cross Societies is a voluntary
organization, non-political, n~on-govern-
mental, and -non-sectarian.
Scope Is Vast.
This movement to continue and en-
large in time of peace Red Cross ac-
tivities comes at a psychological mo-
ment when the world is familiar with
the work of relief performed by the
Red Cross during the greatest wal Of
history and when suffering and distress
following in the wake of that wal are
well nigh universal.
Vast as the scope of the program of
the League of Red Cross Societies is,
and although it is world wide in its
application, it is simple, practical and
scientific. 1t received the unanimous
endorsement of the medical experts
who met at Cannes, France, in April.
That conference, which was presided
over by Professor Roux, successor of
Pasteur, and DR.. William 81. WEIGH, of
Johns Hopkins, is regarded as one of
the most remarkable gatherings of
health experts ever held, and included
many of the foremost men.of America,
France, England, Italy and Japan.
The League of Red Cross plans,
through it's headquarters at Geneva, to
stimulate peace time activities of all
national Red Cross Societies, to help
them grow and to help them to carry
out the program made at the Cannes
conference in a world wide public
health campaign. 1t is to be under
stood that it is not thought that Ma
tional Red Cross Societies themselves
should have the responsibilities Of the
actual work of safeguarding and i'm
proving public health, but that they
should stimulate and encourage nat
ural agencies for such work within
their respective countries, including
the departments of health of their
governments, or, in cases where such
departments do not exist, endeavor to
create pubic sentiment for the estab-
lishment of such departments.