Evening star., 1920-03-08
RED CROSS STARTS
WORLDWIDE HELP
| TO CHILD WELFARE
First General Conference at
Geneva Praised by Henry
P. Dawson.
By the Associated Press.

p. Dawson.
By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, March Child life
throughout the world will be pro-
foundly affected by the work initiated
mt the congress OF the League Of Red
Cross Societies held here during the
past week. said Henry p. Dawson.
of the league. in discussing the meet
Ing today with the Associated Press.
In addition. the plans for lighting
tuberculosis. malaria and other dis
eases. which have been considered.
will greatly benent the peoples OF
many lands. he said.
This first general conference has
been satisfactory" said Mr.. Dawson.
delegates from all over the world.
vital and important people in their
each other and have gained COM
prehensive view of what is being done,
and what may be done.
Program in 81 Countries.
The program of the medical con-
ference held at Cannes has become
the common possession Of the Red
countries. The congress has agreed
upon campaign for child welfare,
which, in our judgment. will pro-
1oundly affect the health and care Of
mothers throughout the world. 1 as
sumo this plan for child welfare will
become Immediately effective every
where when once it begins to be
applied
Il feel the same confidence in the
enect throughout many countries Of
tuberculosis, malaria and other dis
eases. The League of Red Cross So
cieties will also bring into definite
form and communicate to its organi
cation. which will bring them into ef-
feet. many plans for public welfare
which will work Of their own force.
The impulse thus created will be felt
in distant lands.
Public Health Nursing.
"One thing which has been grasped,
and which. l am sure, will have prac-
tical results, is public health nursing
In connection with Industrial prob
lens. school life, tuberculosis. mater
nifty and social service. This calling
will bring out in women taking 1t up
the finest qualities of enthusiasm,
intelligence, devotion and forceful-
ness.
The great result Of the League Of
Red Cross Societies will be that ex-
perience gained anywhere will be the
common property of every society.
The congress adopted plan of or
ganization of national societies under
the chairmanship of Willoughby G.
Walling. vice chairman of the central
committee of the American Red Cross.
This plan. as developed by II. Frank
Persons. director of organization of
the league and formerly director OF
general civilian relief for the Ameri-
can Red Cross. provides for broad
popular membership and the enroll
ment of the youth of every country
under the banner of the Red Cross:
The recommended financial policy Is
for each national society to endeavor
manent expenses from membership
fees and other regularly assured In
come.
Health Service Programs
.Other recommendations cover the
employment of properly qualified per-
sons to conduct health service pro-
grams and the training of lay work
pared BY. DR. Richard p. Strong. direc-
tor general Of the medical depeftment
Of the league, and adopted by Con-
gress, covers recommended practice
with respect to treatment OF tuber-
culosis and other infectious diseases.
Improvement of public sanitation and
an earnest endeavor to educate the
public along practical health lines.
Delegates to the congress enthusi-
astically responded to the appeal OF
A. ]. Balfour. president of the coun-
eil Of the league of nations. to call
upon the peoples of the world. through
their respective Red Cross societies.
to supply doctors. nurses and other
personnel. as well as foodstuffs and
other materials. for the relief of suf-
fering and destitute people through
stricken areas. when assured that
governments will provide elemental
essentials. This call for voluntary
service Is of such magnitude that
only the Red Cross societies of the
world, co-ordinated through the
league. could hope to respond to 1t in
anything like an adequate degree"
Appeal for war-stricke,.
GENEVA. March 6.-Acting upon an
appeal by Arthur J. Balfour as presi-
dent of the council of the league Of
nations the board of government of
the League Of Red Cross Societies, in
session here today. passed resolutions
declaring for the extension of volun-
tary relief work among the starving
eastern Europe. provided that the es-
sentials Of food. clothing and trans
portation be previously assured these
peoples through governmental action.
In his letter to DR.. Dawson. urging
action by the Red Cross organization.
Mr. Balfour pointed out that the
ravages of disease had reached ap-
palling proportions In central Europe
and that medical appliances and medi-
cal skill were lacking to cope with the
horrors that had to be faced.
Unparalleled Catastrophe.
'"The catastrophe IL Of such unex-
ampled magnitude" continued Mr..
Baifour's letter. that no organixa-
tion less powerful than the League
of Red Cross Societies seems adequate
to cope with II. To this great body
I therefore make appeal The mem-
bers of the league Of nations have
agreed to encourage the Red Cross
organizations, whose purposes are
the Improvement of health. the pre-
vention Of disease and the mitigation
of suffering throughout the world
There can surely never be an occasion
calling more instantly for action.
Though confident Of the moral sup
port Of my colleagues. I have been
unable formally to consult them or
to speak with their authority. shall,
however. bring this matter before the
council at the earliest possible mo-
ment. Meantime I venture to urge
the League Of Red Cross Societies to
organise an effort worthy of it's
unique position for dealing with q
calamity which. following hard upon
the war. seems almost worse than the
war itself"