Evening star., 1939-04-24
Davis Urges
Red Cross Work
For Peace
5000 Delegates Hear
Opening Address
At Convention

world to promote peace and good
will among all nations.
Representatives of more than a
score of foreign diplomatic missions,
many of whose countries have been
involved in international strife in
! recent months, lined the boxes sur
rounding the auditorium as the
former Ambassador at-Large de-
| scribed world in which treaties,
| laws and covenants of peace are be-
ing brushed aside, leaving nothing
but naked force to take their places" !"
I'VE are today confronted not only
with a struggle of ideas, but of VAL
ues," Mr.. Davis declared. and in
that struggle it will be the. respon-
sibility of the Red Cross to see that
where brute force leaves its victims
mercy and helpfulness will follow"
The convention opening came
after delegates jammed the marble
corridors of the national headuuar-
tiers building for more than an hour
registering for the four-day con-
| clave. Last-minute registrations
were still being made long after
the initial session was under way.
Neal Introduces Speaker.
Mr.. Davis was introduced to the
gathering after Roy I. Neal. chair
man of the Macon (GaD Red Cross
chapter, had accepted the gavel as
permanent chairman of the con-
vention.
To the martial strains of the
United States Marine Band, uni
formed workers of various volun-
teer Red Cross corps in the District
filed down the center aisle of Con-
stitution Hall in colorful procession.
A huge American flag was un-
furled from the ceiling of the build
ing to wave the heads of the dele
gates as the band played the ma
tional anthem.
Before going into the problems
facing the Red Cross in the world
today Mr.. Davis described the work
Of the organization during the last
year, both at home and abroad.
Help in Hurricane.
Principal energies and financial
resources of the organization were
expended in this country during the
year to relieve suffering following
the hurricane which struck New
England and New York last Sep
tember, he said, adding that the
work in that area involved an ex-
penditure of 81 .682 900. Smaller dis
asters, numbering 14O. during the
last fiscal year in the United States
required aid in excess of $1,000, 900,
he said.
Spain" he commented, has pre-
sented many distressing problems. "
He later referred to the sad plight
OF the Jewish and other refugees in
Central Europe as presenting a
question of serious concern, and
stated that he, as chairman of the
League of Red Cross Societies. mas
appealed to the 81 national societies
ito render such emergency as
sistance as may be possible" in those
countries where temporary refuge is
being provided
In his address. which was broad
cast through the facilities of two
national radio networks, Mr.. Davis
referred to this convention as mark
ing the 18th anniversary of the
Treaty OF Geneva, the origin and
foundation of the Red Cross. He
called on members of the organiza-
ton to supplement this treaty "by
securing agreement on protective
measures to minimize the horror
and suffering of modern warfare
and particularly to safeguard women
and children against slaughter by
bombs from the air"
Urges 100000 Members.
To meet all eventualities in fu-
ture months, Mr.. Davis urged the
convention to set its plans for an
increase of at least 100000 men,
bers in the coming annual roll call
In the Red Cross, he said, there
is "a bond between men and ma
tions more lasting than the spoils
OF victory and more satisfying than
the pursuits of war"
Rector Addresses Meeting.
The Rev. Elmore Mckee, rector
Of st. Georges Church in New York
City, also called on the Red Coss
to act as ''centralizing organiza-
ton for the preservation of human
values"
There's something in the atmos-
phere of today that makes man S
spirit droop,' Mr.. Mckee asserted.
Man is prone to hate when fears
are aroused as they are today and
hate will destroy the haters.
Forces that make society a mad
house are on the increase"
Another speaker on the opening
convention program was Ernest j.
Swift, vice chairman in charge of
1nsular and foreign operations of
the Red Cross, who stated that the
anniversaries of the treaty of
Geneva and the Red Cross Societies
are "milestones in the progress Of a
great force-a force representing
the unselflsh spirit of service, fos-
tering the desires of peace and fel-
lowship and ever seeking for prac-
tical measures in the salvation of
humanity from the evils that beset
it,
A drive for increased membership
In the Junior Red Cross, which is
holding sessions concurrently with
the parent organization, was de-
scribed before the general assembly
by Charles w. DAILY, jr., Hartford,
Conn.,, spokesman for the junior
group. Also appearing on the pro-
gram was the Georgetown Univer-
slty Glee Club, directed by DR.. Ed
ward P. Donovan and accompanied
by John F.. Parr.
The invocation was pronounced
by the Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Bishop of Washington.
AT Memorial Continental Hall this
afternoon addresses were to be heard
from DR.. George Patry of the Inter-
national Red Cross Committee in
Geneva, Switzerland; Eliot Wads-
worth. member of the Central Com
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