FOREIGN RED CROSS ORGANIZATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A000100010020-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 1, 1947
• Content Type: IR

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 N0. I
A REVIEW OF AMERICAN RED CROS5 INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
INSULAR AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS
FOREIGN VISITORS NUMEROUS
During the last quarter of 1946,23 men
and women from 15 different foreign countries
visited American Red?Cross national head- -
quarters in Washington for information, in-
struction, or informal study.
The International Activities department
made nearly a hundred appointments with key
persons at national, area, and chapter
levels far these visitors from overseas.
Their visits varied in length from 1 day to
2 weeks.
PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
BE1 NG HELD IN VENEZUELA
The firs t.Pan-American Red Cross Con-
ference since 1940 was held at Caracas,
Venezuela, Feb. 7-15. Delegates from 31
American countries met to discuss postwar
programs, fund raising, public relations,
chapter organization, and Junior Red Cross.
American representatives attending the
conference were: Mrs. Paul E. Peabody, lbtth
Freeman, James T. Nicholson, Dr. Edward A.
Richards, Maurice Reddy, Col. Antonio R. Silva,
and Philip E. Ryan.
They presented papers on nursing, dis-
aster preparedness, and Junior Red Cross. In
addition, at the request of the League of
Red Cross Societies the American Red Cross
prepared exhibits demonstrating the work of
Junior Red Cross and Hisaster Service for
use at the meeting. Following the conference,
these exhibits will be shown throughout the
Pan-American countries.
MARCH 1947
AMERICAN RED CROSS RELIEF
FOR HUNGARY
Supplies valued at app~,oximately
$1,750,000 will be made available to Hungary
under a comprehensive Red Cross relief pro-
gram recently given administrative approval.
Clothing and medical supplies will constitute
ttie bulk of the relief materials. At the
same time, special assistance wi.il be given
to the Hungarian Red Cross to aid in the
reconstruction of its services. Two American
Red Cross representatives already in Europe
will administer the new program, but. all
supplies will be distributed through the
Hungarian Red. Cross. The program is expected
to get under way by. the end of March.
The decision to send aid to Htmgary was
made on the recommendation of James B? Foley,
director of International Activities in the
Mediterranean area. Mr. Foley has recently
completed a survey of conditions in Hungary
made at tYie request of the Hungarian Red
Cross and the UNRRA mission to Hungary.
Mr. Foley emphasized that the aid pro-
gram outlined would meet a considerable part
of the need existing in Hungary and be of
inestimable value in revitalizing and
strengthening the Hungarian Red Cross.
Of the total relief supplies to be made
available, approximately $1,500,000 worth
are already in Red Cross warehouses or chap-
ter production workrooms. New expenditures
of about $250,000 will b.e necessary, there-
fore, to complete the program. It is est i-
mated that administrative expenses For staff
salaries, maintenance, transportation, and
so .forth, will come to $22,500? The relief
(phase of the program will be completed by
.the end of October of this year according
to tiihe s11chhedule of operations set up at
SP~(~a009~~cA~~Q~~~Qc~0~r~0~ge 3/
A complete review of the activities of
the conference will be presented in the next
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WO LD WID)r
YOL,I - N0. i
Published Monthly at
Washington, D. C., b;y
UNITED NATIONS ADOPTS
RED CROSS RESOLUTION
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
A MESSAGE FROM 'SHE CHAIRMAN
It is my strong belief that the inter-
national Red Cross idetcl can be a vital
force for peace and mutual understanding
throughout the world. Through the Inter-
national Red Cross Comrr+ittee, the League of
Red Cross Societies, and the E1 national
Red Cross societies now in existence, a
large part of the world's population is al-
ready working harmoniously for the attain-
ment of humanitarian and benevolent aims.
It is not too much to hope, I believe, that
the continuation and extension of this Red
Cross effort can and wi:l1 lead to even
greater cooperation in the future and be a
primary factor in man's efforts to reach the
goal of universal peace, understanding, and
tolerance for which he t.s strivi.ng.
By its history of service at home and
abroad the American Red Cross has achieved
a place of eminence in the world-wide Red
Cross movement. As so many of the nations
look to the United States for leadership
and assistance, so do the national Red Cross
societies of many countries look to the
American Red Cross for guidance ;~,nd a help-
ing hand. To extend the aid they request,
to take advantage of the byproducts of the
foreign relief program, rutd to help these
sacieties help themselves, the American Red
Cross is engaged in a program of assistance
to sister societies. It is an essential to
that program that our staff, volunteer and
paid, at national Yieadqua.rters, in the area
offices, and in the chapters have more in-
formation about the world--wide Red Gross.
This publication is apart of that effort.
It is designed to acquaint you more thoroughly
with the American Red Cross International
Activities program and wit}1 developments in
the whole Red Cross world.
I welcome, therefore, this opportunity
of commenting on this first issue of World
Wide. As we all become more familiar with
what s1I the ,Red Cross societies are doing,
we will, I believe, recog~iize more clearly
the significance of their role in the de-
velopment of a new world.
On November 19, 1946, the General
Assembly of the United Nations adopted un-
animously the following resolution:
"The General Assembly draws the
attention of the Members of the [Tnited
Nations to the fact that the following pur-
poses are of special concern, namely:
(a) that the said members should en-
courage and promote the establishment and
.cooperation of duly authorized voluntary
National Red Cross and Ned Crescent
Societies;
(b) that at all times the independent
voluntary nature of the National Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies be respected iri
all circumstances, provided they are rec-
ognized by their governments and carry on
their work according to the principles of
the Geneva and Hague Conventions and in the
humanitarian spirit of the Red Cross and
Red Crescent;
(c) that the necessary steps be taken
to erasure that in all circumstances contact
be maintained between the National Red Cross
and Red Crescent societies of all countries,
so as to enable them to carry out their
humanitarian task."
This resolution was sponsored by the
Belgian Ile legation to the United Nations
at the request of the Belgian Red Cross.
It is similar to one adopted during the XIX
Meeting of the Board of Governors of the
League of Red Cross Societies at Oxford,
England, in July 1948, and later sent to
the Secretary General of the United Nations
for consideration.
WORLD RED CROSS MEMBERSHIP 87~ MILLION
Total membership in Red Cross societies
throughout the world is 87~ million accord
ing to the latest estimate released by the
Secretariat of the League of Red Cross Soc-
ieties. Of this number, 8B million repre-
sent adult members and 31~ million junior
members. American Red Cross membership in
1946 was 22 million adults, 19~} million
juniors.
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Chairman
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AUSTRIAN RED CROSS - ARC TO PROVIDE CORN MEAL
COMPLETES REORGANISATION I FOR RUMANIAN FAMINE RELIEF
National reorganization of the Austrian
Red Cross was accomplished on July 21, 194!3,
with the unanimous election of national
officers and adoption of riew constitutions
at a formal meeting of delegates from the
nine provincial units that make up the
Austrian society. Elected to office were
Dr. Karl Seitz, President; Dr. Bruenner,
Chairman of the Executive Committee; acrd
Rudolf Mitloehner, Vice Chairman of the
Executive Committee.
Immediately following the German
Anschluss in 1938 the Austrian Red Cross
+ras dissolved and its establishments
and functions taken over by the German
Red Cross whose leadership was appointed
by the German government. Austria's
liberation in April 1946 brought with it
the end of German Red Cross activities
in Austria and, effective May B, 1346,
the Austrian Provisional Government can-
celled and voided German Red Cross
regulations. Shortly after this date
several of the provincial units resumed
their preoccupation activities under
Austrian leadership. Rational reorgani-
zation of the society was achieved with
the advice and assistance of represent a--
tives of the American, British, and
French Red Cross societies and the League
of Red Cross Societies.
Dr. Seitz, the newly elected President,
w'as the mayor of VieruYa at the t ime of the
German occupation. Persecuted by the Nazis,
he is loved and respected throughout Austria.,
Dr. Bruenner and Herr Mitloehner are veteran
Red Cross officials of many years experience
with the Austrian society. Together they
are expected to provide excellent leadership
for the Austrian Red Cross in its traditional
program of public health and welfare anct in
the extension of that program to new fields
of service.
LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS 61 SOCIETIES
bembership in the League of Red Cross
Societies currently numbers 61 national
Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Four
more are waiting formal recognition and
admission to membership.
The American Red Cross has arranged
for ttie immediate purchase and transporta-
? tion of 1, 000,000 pounds of corn meal to
help alleviate a famine in the province of
Moldavia, Rumania. More than 3,000,000
persons live i.n the famine-stricken area.
The action was recommended by Fred Sigerist,
American Red Cross International Activities
representative, following a special field
trip into the effected area.
The meal will be shipped to Constants a,
on the Black Sea, and turned over to the
Rumanian Red Cross for distribution in the
famine region. Mr. Sigerist will observe
tkie distribution for the American Red Cross.
The Rumanian Society is already operating a .
limited number of feeding stations in
Moldavia and is also sponsoring a program
for the removal of children from. the af-
fected area to foster homes in provinces
where food is more plentiful.
FIRST USE OF RED CROSS EMBLEM
The first use of the Red Cross emblem
on the field of battle occurred in 18Ci4 in
the war between Prussia and Denmark. The
Swiss phys iciart, I7r . ' L. P. Amedee Appia,
made up an arm band bearing the symbol and
wore it to gain audiences with military and
civiliar- authorities. The original arm band
is still in the possession of the Inter-
national Red Cross Committee at Geneva.
HUNGARIAN PROGRAM APPROVED
(continued .from~iage i1
Specific relief supplies to be dis-
tributed include the following: 60,000 pairs
of children's and women's shoes;' 800,000
chapter--produced garments; 15,000 demi-
layettes;. 30 trucks and ambulances; equip-
ment for the Hungarian Red Cross nurses'
training school; $180,000 worth of medical
and hospital"supplies; Junior Red Cross
medical kits and educational gift boxes;
and miscellaneous items such as blankets,
sheets, typewriters, mimeograph machines,
and paper. Only previous American Red CROSS
aid to Hungary was a gift of 12,000,000 sur-
plus surgical dressings last fall.
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T ICE RED ~~ CRS
SS WORLD
PICTURE OF THE MONTH
In the Austrian Red Crosa training school for nurses ~ instruc-
tor teaches one phase of the 2-year course that will prepare
this student for service with the Austrian Red Cross (Austrian
Red Cross story of page 3).
One section of the American Red Cross exhibit for the pan-American Red
Cross Conference at Caracas, Venezuela (Story on page 1),
Six-year old Warfel, of the Am Himme~ orphanage in Vienna, receives the
first pair of new shoes he has ever he,d, 'they were part of alarge amount
of clothing end shoes distributed khrough the American Red Cross in
Austria leatfall. The picture was tel,;en by Red Cross photographer Gerry
Waller end has been widely published in the United States press.
These two Rumanian children in famine-stricken Moldavia
have been brought by their parents to a center in Iassy
prior to their removal to fester homes in other districts
where they will be fed and cared for during the winter.
Soon afterward - bathed, deloused, and dressed in American
Red Cross pyjamas - they have joined other children in group
Approved For Release 2004110112 :CIA-RDP80-00926A000100010020-9 singing. The Rumanian Red Cross does most of the work in
this child removal project (Rumanian famine story on page 3).
 Approved For Release 2004/10/12: CIA-RDP80-00926A000100010020-9
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 Approved For Release 2094/10/12
As ~a part of the IA informational pro-
gram, members of the headquarters staff
recently visited all areas to discuss and
explain the peacetime activities of the de-
partment. Philip E. Ryan, director, visited
North Atlantic and Eastern Areas; G. R. More,
deputy director, visited Southeastern Area;
and Melvin A? Glasser, assistant director,
visited Midwestern and Pacific Areas. All
reported a keen interest in the IA program.
William H. Giblin, director of Inter-
national Activities in the ETO, has returned
to his Paris headquarters after spending the
Christmas holiday season in the United States.
Mr. Giblin has been active in overseas oper-
ations for. the American Red Cross since 1~J40
when he accepted his first foreign assignment.
Gertrude Calhoun, of the national head-
quarters IA staff, has arrived in Europe for
a special assignment in the Scandinavian
countries. Her work in Washington is being
taken aver by Nancy Means, of the Paris
office. This is the first of a series of
exchanges of headquarters and field staff
designed to acquaint each at firsthand with
the activities of the ether.
M argaret Lewis, veteran and well-known.
Red Cross worker, has begun her new duties
as assistant director in charge of Head-
quarters Operations, International Activities
departmer-t. Mrs. Lewis brings to her new
position a vast fund of chapter and area
experience and is awel.come addition to the
Washington staff. She replaces Edward R.
Stearn who has gone to Eastern Area Chapter
Service.
Another new addition to the head-
quarters staff is Stephan Whalen, until re-
Gently a special advisor to the Philippine
Red Cross. Mrs.. Whalen will handle the
International Activities study-visit. program,
planning discussion and study periods with
key chapter, area, and national personnel far
foreign v isitors interested in American Red
Cross services and methods of operation.
CIA-RDP80-O~~f~1?QOpQ~~Qf~AND S
PROMINENT STUDY VISITOR
W. Veenstra, Director of Foreign Rielations,
Netherlands Red Cross.
Prominent among recent study visitors
from abroad at ~nerican Red Cross national
headquarters was W. Veenstra, Director of
Foreign Relations of the Netherlands Red
Cross, who spent 2 wee ks studying adminis-
tration and service programs in preparation
for his part in the rehabilitation of the
Llutch society.
Forced underground by the Nazi occu-
pation, the Netherlands Red Cross is ir- the
process of rebuilding its organization and
N[r. Veenstra was primarily interested in
American Red Crass services that might be
adapted to use in his c ountry and those that
would offer assistance in the society~s re-
birth. He spent the mayor part of his time .
with representatives of Public'Relations,
Fund Raising, Volunteer Special Services,
and Home Service; but also reviewed the
activities of community, disaster, and
hospital services and Junior Red Cross.
~[r. Veenstra expressed his amazement
at the scope of American Red Cross activ-
ities and particularly the large--scale
employment of volunteer assistance. He
also took occasion formally to thank the
American Red Cross for its aid to the
Netherlands in both relief supplies and
advisory assistance.
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 THE F I ELD STAFF REPORT '-- -
.