The Wilmington morning star., 1943-10-11
nv WEsTBROOK PEGLER

NEW YORK-There may be some misun-
| Outstanding about the function Of the Red
Cross in war Without going into the history
of this organization which may be read in
the Encyclopeda and other reference works,
it may be stated briefly that in war the Red
Cross operates under the Geneva convention
and ENJOYS certain immunitles and privileges
in consideration of an understanding that it
confine itself strictly to merciful works, shun-
ming political activities and severely avoiding
participation in military operations. Like all
reyocable agreements the convention is based
on good faith and any action which tends
to irnpugn the sincerity OF any of the con-
tracing parties jeopardizes those for whom
the Red Cross exists. Subterfuge, which is
not only customary but instructive in politics,
is extremely dangerous II resorted to IN the
operations of the Red Cross.
The Red Cross, therefore, has solemn OBJ
legation to humanity to resist all temptation
and pressure, whether political or personal, to
permit any use of its credentials which an
enemy, composed of savages, could construe
as breach of faith. There may be &C.
casions when individuals will ask the Red
Cross to give them the guise of Red Cross
workers as an excuse for trips to various
theaters of war; A journalist, for example,
unable to obtain travel facilities from the
military authorities, might ask for temporary
Red Cross status so as to accomplish the
same end. A politician, bent on a political
mission, might offer a very plausible argu-
ment in support of a request for such Gre
dentials, if the politician happened to possess
a record of generosity to Red Cross collec-
tons and of prominent, if dilettante, Red Cross
activity. Mere plausibility, however, is no
substitute for sincerity, and any Individual
who accepts the guise of Red Cross worker
to cover other purposes and activities more
than compensates in discredit to the ideal of
the Red Cross, the fleeing and superficial
benefits accomplished on given mission.
The enemies of the United States have
strong interest in the internal politics of our
country. This being so, all political per-
sonalties on either side of the presidential con-
test have an obligation as citizens to keep
hands off the Red Cross and refrain from
embarrassing its leadership with requests of
doubtful sincerity. 1t would be a fragrant
violation of the convention for an American
general to don Red Cross uniform to make
a journey of inspection. 1t would be little
less questionable of an active party politician
to resort to the same subterfuge in order to
circulate among the troops and stimulate
them to send home to their relatives who will
be voting, favorable reports on that individual
The office of director of the Red Cross is
one that calls for great strength of character
always, and particularly now. 1t would be
insensitive to all considerations except for
which the Red Cross exists and individuals of
ambiguous character, say an active party
politician, with a genuine zeal for adventure
and service, should restrain themselves to
avoid even suspicious appearances
No Red Cross worker should bring back
reports on military matters. There are 9TH
ers who attend to that. No Red Cross
worker should report on the stated amount
of equipment of the military forces, the pur-
poses for which the organization exists will
be best served in the field by persons who
go out, not on mere temporary missions or
tours, but by personnel VINO are undoubtedly
occupied with Red Cross duties and for a
long term, if not arbitrarily for the duration
Of the war