Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-16
M IONS UNITE
UNDER PACT TO
FIGHT DISEASE
Continued from Page one.)

and brought their diseases. the
first information was obtained.
Now comes the League of Ma
tons to offer a remedy. Merely by
organizing the various health serv-
ices around the world in one cen
trail, coordinated body. the league
will be able to detect and act
against epidemics at the very time
Of their birth, and bring to bear all
/ the skill and science OF each coun-
try to put up the bars against fur
Their ravages. In fighting disease,
as we'll as any battle in life, the
prime requisite is organization.
The permanent international
health organization will consist OF
a general committee, an executive
committee and an international
health Office. The general commit
tee would be composed of delegates
appointed by the governments rep
resented in the convention at Rome
in 1907 on international hygiene. 1t
would meet at least once year. The
executive committee would consist
OF nine members, including the
/ president Of the general commit
tee and one representative each
from the league of Red Cross So
| cieties and one from the governing
body Of the international labor Of
fee. This committee would meet
not less than four times a year.
Is Permanent Feature.
The international health Office
would be permanent organization
established at the seat of the
League of Nations, in charge Of the
, medical secretary. who would have
direct communication with the sec
i rotary general Of the league, and
thus have the authority to COM
municate directly with the govern
| ment health Offices in various coun-
tries The organization would work
out somewhat in this way: The in
i ternational health Office would ad-
wise the League of Nations. the la
Dor Office, the league of Red Cross
societies. and other health organ
! izations on matters of health, would
| bring administrative health author
| tiles in the different countries in
closer touch, would organize more
rapid interchange OF information
where immediate precautions
against disease are required. and
would gather data on the health
administration Of various nations
with the view to concluding inter-
national conventions and agree
ments. The executive committee
would serve somewhat as a draft
ing committee for these conven-
lions which would be submitted to
the general committee for approval.
If approved by a two-thirds vote,
they would be submitted to the ma
/ tional authority of each country
None of these recommendations
would have any binding effect on
any nation until formally ratified
by that nation, in which case each
| would agree to make an annual re-
port on the measures taken to give
effect to the agreements ratified.
Wonder ut Lack OF F0reth0nght.
! When it is realized how cuickl3
diseases can be brought into on
country by the thousands of ship
plying the seven seas today. the fac
| that i no effective internationa
! health organization has existe5
makes one wonder what civilizatio .
has been doing. But, as a matte.
of fact, there has existed no per
manent or central clearing house
fer international relations Of any
kind until the league was set o.
foot. Irrespective of what tn
| league may do to prevent war, there
are many people who hope it Wi
bring about international coopera
| ton in fighting something deadlie
to America than the last wards
/ ease.