The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-10-22
RED CROSS HAS
STAFF OF $500
IN SWITZERLAND

| largest, most et1iClent ana most im-
partially humanitarian organiEa-
ton In the world at war, has ex-
banded It's staff from IL when hos
tilitieS began 10 $500 now.
This fact was revealed recently
In Q United Press interview with
scholarly Max Huber, eo.year old
president 70 the IRCC. Huber, sue
cessful industriallst, authority on
international law and formerly per-
manent Judge on the international
Court Of Arbitration ct The Hague,
has held the presidency Of the
IRCC since 1923.
Huber's business, In short, Is al.
leviatlng some Of the misery caused
by war. Because he has TO work with
Axis and Allies alike, the Job Of dell
cate. Because the misery Of war is
great, the Job Is big. Huber talked
about both aspects.
When war broke out, the IRCC,
with headquarters at Geneva where
Huber has his permanent office, had
II staff members. It now employs q
paid staff Of HOO, has 1000 volun-
tary works In Geneva and 1900
more spread throughout other
Swiss towns.
mail is our chief problem, /"
Huber said. I'VE sometimes get
100000 letter daily, so you see
can't answer oil Of them"
The Geneva files contain l6,000,-
600 1amecards. During l942 IRCC
handled 100000 incoming letters
for war prisoners, 100000 OUT
going plus 100000 civilian mes
sages. The organization also dis
patched 260,000,000 pounds in
packages and 100000 books for
prisoners Of war.
Additionally. 1RCC handled
about Ss,00o,oo0 worth Of prison.
ers' parcels and operated 5000
goods vans plying between Geneva
and various ports as well as IL ships
sailing all oceans TO collect and de-
liver food, clothes and medical
supplies.
TO accomplish It's work among
belligerents the IRCC has % dele.
gates travelling In various countries,
1.-THE most difficult task" Huber
said, us to maintain impartiality
and patience necessary to conduct
negotiations with belligerent gov
ernments, taking into account that
their main business Is to make war
and everything else must be rele.
gated to second place."
Huber limited that his past expe-
rience as an international Judge, as
member Of important Swiss for
eign commissions and as collah-
orator with the worlds experts on
international law was sometimes
scarcely sufficient background for
dealing with the delicate and COM
pick situations arising among the
belligerents.
I'VE must look after oil our pris.
oners and these prisoners are held
by all belligerent countries" Huber
said. 1T by some thoughtless &C.
ton we displease one country we
may be deharred from helping pris-
oners and internees In camps there.
We cannot take sides even in face
OF conditions which conscience
urges should be alleviated."
Asked what he considered the
greatest success Of the IRCC since
the outbreak OF war, Huber en-.
sWered: ...-
"Our most important gain has
been development OF facilities to
help civilian interneeS, who, al.
though uncovered by any interna-
tional conventions, now enjoy the
same status as war prisoners IN all
belligerent countries. This enables
the IRCC to extend relief to o class
Of war sufferers for whom nothing
was done previously, although
mainly women, children and old
people are involved"
To minister to the needs OF war
prisoners and internees, the 1RCC
has sent delegates to 81 countries
and TO 1000 individual camps Tor
prisoners and incarcerated civni-
ans.
For making the IRCC's work pos.
sible through contributions, Huber
credited various governments, ma
tional Red Cross societies and other
charitable institutions, and above
all the Swiss public, whose per cap.
Ito contribution In money aS well
as In voluntary service has been the
highest Of any nation.
Huber, whose own position y I'm.
remuneratAd, concluded:
"Tell your readers all this work
Is done by O body Of !dealists, men
and women whose only official sta
tus Is that they consider help wher
ever possible, not as O mission, but
as o self.evident duty.
IT we Swiss do anything worth
while, Il Is because we have been
spared 80 far from being drawn into
the greatest Of all wars"