The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-23
TREATY EMPTY
IF RELIEF FAILS,
DAWSON WARNS
Americans Could Not Sleep
If They Knew of EurOpe's
Misery, He Says.
RED CROSS HAS REMEDY
Worldwide Drive on Distress
and Disease Ready to Be
I Launched at Geneva.

Il would not give damn for all the
peace treaties in the world IL some
thing was not done to relieve the in
credible, the unbelievable, distress that
exists in the world to-day" said Henry
P. Dawson when he landed from the
Levia1han yesterday.
Mr.. Dawson. who is now chairman
OF the board Of governors of the
League of Red Cross Societies, which
has already set up lighthouse of
knowledge at Geneva. Switzerland,
talked at the Metropolitan Club last
evening to a group of newspaper men
that had met him there by appoint
ment He talked steadily and intensely
for three quarters OF an hour with the
fervor OF one whose heart is in his
work.
IL tell YOU" he said. that Americans
could not sleep OF nights-the right
hind of Americans-if they knews the
misery Of Europe in its savage reality.
They could not face their children with
clean conscience knowing what
know unless they were willing to give
Is true men their full support to the big
idea that has just been evolved to save
the bodies and brighten the minds of
mankind. will pass over the hunger
and the restitution that throttle GEN.
trail Europe and speak OF disease only
for the moment. AS left the other side
. report came to me of 275,000 typhus
cases in a belt extending from the Bal
tic 10 the Black Sea, a wave OF disease
rolling westward. This constitutes a
peril for America.
Great Peace BODY Planned.
"In former tines continued Mr.. Da-
vision, the Red Gross was an organiza-
ton for war. to mitigate the horrors Of
war. and to relieve victims of disasters
We now propose to make 1t the greatest
Of all peace, organizations through an
International bond which 1 hope will
eventually take in all OF the nations OF
he globe We have already established
at Geneva the headquarters of the
League Of Red Cross Societies. This
headquarters will become the clearing
house Of scientific knowledge having to
DO with the most up to date methods Of
treating disease, preventing disease,
ssnitation and child welfare.
Our arganisation jnclydes the lead
~ in research work tlis world over.
II flexner of the Rockefeller Institute
makes an important discovery he will
transmit II to Geneva. II Lister cap
lures great truth 1t will be at the dis
posal of the league. Wherever scien-
lists are at work they are ready to
give US the instant benefit OF their dis
ooveries In a sense, the Geneva head
quarters will be a great well into which
the scientific knowledge of the world
will be constantly pouring. 1t will be
our privilege to distribute this treasure
wherever II Is needed-to Madagascar
Or TO Brasil; to China or to Georgia; to
Africa or to Poland.
with no political or governmental or
sectarian connections whatever the
league purposes, in this international
compact, 10 work for the betterment OF
humanity by distributing the knowledge
contributed to 1t and by stirring local
agencies to keen activity. Knowing, let
US say, that q pestilence is about to af-
hict any part OF the world. just as il
was known that the Spanish influenza
was advancing, the league win warn
the threatened territories, offer the best
preventive and curative methods. advise
the local Red Cross organizations what
TO do and generally inspire the proper
agencies TO q correct and efficient han
ding Of the problem.
Big Fight on Tuberculosis.
I'VE shall pay special attention to the
seourge Of tuberculosis and to child vel
fAre, but the activities of the league will
be multifarious. 1t Is tremendous pro-
1ect too big for any one Red Cross or
Eanization, but Just suited to the inter
national body We have established. The
League OF Red Cross Societies is now q
reality. 1t has been officially recognized
oy the principal powers and its objects
have been approved by Article XIV. OF
the League of Nations. The articles of
association were signed in Paris on May
by the authorized representatives OF
he Red Cross Societies of America,
Great Britain. France, Italy and Japan,
and representatives from these nations
FORM the present board Of governors, OF
which l have the honor to be chair.
man.
ne board VIII eventually consist OF
not more than fifteen members. Invita-
tons to Join the league have been ex-
tended TO the Red Cross societies of the
Argentine, Australia, Belgium, Brazil
Canada, Chile. China, Cuba, Denmark
Greece, Holland, India, New Zealand
Norway, Peru. Portugal, Rumania
serbia South Africa, Spain, Sweden
switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela. II
Is expected that eventually the league
VIII include the Red Cross societies OF
al the nations OF the world.
The objects OF the society are to pro-
mote in every country of the world a
voluntary, national Red Cross organiza-
uon, having as it's purpose the improve
ment OF health. the prevention of dis.
vase and the mitigation of suffering, and
70 promote the welfare of mankind By
furnishing the medium Of knowledge tC
prevent disease and TO treat It and Il
bpur properly constituted agencies Il
sWift and Efficient work. What we hops
70 accomplish might be put under thres
heads: TO develop everywhere a greater
sense OF responsibility toward mankind
70 distribute throughout the world scien
unc knowledge on the same basis TO all
ana to provide a sure method Of coop
e'atlon and coordination In meeting in.
ernational disasters.
Need for Help shown.
While the relations of the Leagu,