The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-20
FORMATION LEAGUE. OF
. RED CROSS SOCIETIES

Washington, May 19.-Red Cross
headquarters today gave out the first
official report of the recent forma-
ton in Paris Ct the League of Red
Cross societies, the purpose OF which
is to unity The Red Cross organiZa
tons OF the world in a systematic
effort to anticipate. diminish and re-
lieve misery produced by disease and
disaster. Fed Cross societies of the
United States, Great Britain. France.
Italy and Japan are founder members
Of the league. which is the outgrowth
of the conferences of worlds Red
Gross leaders and medical experts
held in Paris and Cannes over
period of FIVE months
The objects of the League are form
ally set forth in its articles OF assoc
citation are ]. To encourage and
promote in ever country in the world
a duly authorized voluntary National
Red Cross organization, having IS
purposes the Improvement of health,
prevention of disease and mitigation
of suffering throughout the world.
and 10 secure the cooperation of
such organizations for these purposes.
,. To promote the welfare of man
kind by furnishing "A medium for
brng ing within reach of all peoples
the benefits 10 he derived from pre-
sent known facts, and new contri-
buttons to srItnce. and medical
knowledge and their application.
| g. To furnish 4 medium for co-ordi-
mating relief work in case of great
national or international disasters
The original members of the league
are to invite the Red Cross societies
Of other nations to Join each organi-
/ zatiun TO TfaS,'rVc It's national auto
nomy and all tc remain constituent
| mem bers # The International Red
Cross of Geneva The control Of tho
| league will he by general council
composed If all members of Red
Cross societies meeting 1t designated
| periods 4 governing board OF fifteen
members vii ho chosen by the gen
| eral council to direct the affairs Of
! the affairs of r." league in the in
tervais between such meetings. Henry
| T. Dawson of New York. formerly
! chairman of 'aa war council of the
! American Red Cross and since Jan
uary chairman Of the committee OF
! Red Cross societies which formulated
J the lea CUES program. is chairman OF
! leagues first board of governors,
| Other members of the board chosen
! thus far are: Sir Arthur Stanley. of
| the British Red Cross: Comte kergor-
I lap-t,f the French Red Cross Count
| f'rascara If the Italian Red Cross.
| and Professor Nina gawa, Of the Japa-
nese Red Cross. The board selected
Geneva as the headquarters of the
| league and took steps toward putting
| into practical effect the world health
| program shaped during the recent
! conferences at Cannes,
The purpose of the League of Red
! Cross societies arc recognized by the
| league Of nations in article No. p of
| the latter organizations covenant
which reads; The members of the
| lea que agree to encourage and pro-
| mote the establishment and co-opera-
ton Of luly authorized voluntary
| National Red cross organizations.
having as purposes the Improvement
of health, the prevention of disease
| and the mitigation of suffering
| throughout the world"
White il * expected that the League
of Red Cross societies will establish
intimate relations with the league Of
nations il should be understood clear
| ly. that the FORMER, being a purely
! voluntary. nnn-policital non-secta-
rian. non governmental organiza ton.
has no statutory connection with the
league of nations or with any govern
mentN
Mr. DAWSON commenting on the
League Of Red Cross societies said :;
The Rel Cross societies. Of the
United States, Great Britain. France,
! Italy and Japan have for several
months worked necessarily. through
their represents lives. To devise an
agency which could Adequately cone
I with the world problems of disease
and disaster From the outset II was
clear to us all there was no institu-