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The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Protection of Political Detainees

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2010

Jacques Moreillon
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Abstract

Last February we devoted an article to a book by Jacques Moreillon, ICRC delegate-general, which had been published by the Henry Dunant Institute. We give below an English version of one chapter (translated by us) of the book which, we would state, was submitted as a thesis to the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, under the sole responsibility of the author.

Type
Research Article
Information
International Review of the Red Cross (1961 - 1997) , Volume 14 , Issue 164 , November 1974 , pp. 585 - 595
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 1974

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References

page 585 note 1 Le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge et la protection des détenus politiques, Henry Dunant Institute, Geneva — Editions l'Age d'Homme, Lausanne, 1973 Google Scholar

page 585 note 2 Thormeyer, F. Les effets de la Révolution russe sur la CR. Bulletin international des Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge, No 192, 10 1917, pp. 458–468.Google Scholar

page 586 note 1 Report by Mr. Ed. Frick on his work in Russia—1.11.1918 ICRC records—Mis. 1.5.

page 586 note 2 Minutes of the first meeting of the International Conference of neutral Red Cross Societies at Petrograd on 4.6.1918. ICRC records — Mis. 1.5.

page 586 note 3 Rapport général du CICR sur son activité de 1912 à 1920, p. 186.Google Scholar presented by the ICRC to the Xth International Conference of the Red Cross, Geneva, 1921, 257 pp. (Hereafter, Rapport général CICR, 1912–1920)Google Scholar; ICRC library—362.191/7.

page 586 note 4 Letter from the Swiss Legation in Russia (Mr. Edouard Odier) to the ICRC, dated 2.4.1918, ICRC records—Mis. 1.5.

page 586 note 5 ICRC General Report, 1912–1920, p. 187; ICRC library—362. 191/7).

page 587 note 1 Letter (undated) sent by the Collegial body for the administration of the Russian Red Cross to the ICRC, annexed to the letter dated 2.4.1918 from the Swiss Legation in Russia (Mr. Edouard Odier) to the ICRC. ICRC records— Mis. 1.5.

page 587 note 2 Letter from Mr. Frick, delegate of the ICRC, to the Swiss Legation in Russia (Mr. Odier), dated 1 or 2.4.1918 (annexed to the letter dated 2.4.1918 from the Swiss Legation in Russia to the ICRC). ICRC records— Mis. 1.5.

page 587 note 3 Bulletin International de la Croix-Rouge, No. 195, 07 1918, pp. 447–449.Google Scholar

page 587 note 4 Report by Mr. Frick (ICRC) on his work in Russia, 1.11.1918. Report by Dr. Piaget to the ICRC, 3.6.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 1.5.

page 588 note 1 The Conference of neutral Red Cross Societies decided also to undertake the following activities:

— general provision of relief to POWs;

— aid to the civilian population of Omsk in Siberia;

— supply of wheat to hospitals and other medical establishments;

— endeavours to carry out with the White Russians exchanges of hostages and the repatriation of children from those areas in Siberia which were in the hands of the White Army;

— combating epidemics, especially in the Caucasus.

See, especially, Report by Dr. Piaget to the ICRC, 3.6.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 1.5.

page 588 note 2 Report by Dr. Piaget to the ICRC, 3.6.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 1.5.

page 588 note 3 Rapport général ICRC 1912–1920, p. 192.Google Scholar ICRC library—362. 191/7. This is borne out by the publication in this report (see footnote 9, p. 192) of a letter, dated 12.12.1918, sent to the Conference by the Government of the Federal Soviet Republic, stating that “in reply to your report of the 10th instant, we inform you that the shortcomings pointed out in the said report, in respect of the present condition of the prison sick-bay, will be given serious consideration and that we shall take all necessary measures to remedy them” (our translation).

page 589 note 1 Report by Mr. E. Nussbaum to the ICRC, 22.6.1920. Report by Mr. E. Frick on his work in Russia, 1.11.1918. ICRC records—Mis. 1.5.

page 589 note 2 According to an article by a member of the pre-revolution Red Cross Society, Mr. Georges Lodygensky, which appeared in the Revue internationale of 06 1920 (No. 18, pp. 654–670)Google Scholar under the heading La Croix-Rouge et la guerre civile en Russie de 1919 à 1920, it would seem that in 1919 the ICRC delegate in Kiev, together with members of neutral Red Cross Societies, visited and gave aid to political detainees held in Kiev prisons on a number of occasions. This action was continued despite five changes of régime in a single year, with corresponding changes in those imprisoned. No first-hand reports, however, have been found to provide details.

page 590 note 1 ICRC records—Mis. 4.5.

page 590 note 2 Letter from the ICRC to Mr. A. Haccius in Budapest, 28.3.1919. ICRC records —Mis. 4.2., box 4, doc. 58, folio 89.

page 590 note 3 Letter No. 1 from Mr. Haccius to the ICRC, 25.3.1919.

“I obtained yesterday an interview with “citizen” Dr. Krcyrsik, secretary to Bela Kun, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. I explained to him the humanitarian aim of the relief mission, the studies that had been made and what had been done; I also reminded him of the services rendered to Hungarian prisoners of war by the International Red Cross.

He replied that he fully recognized the great services rendered by the International Red Cross and that it was the government's desire to remain on good terms with it. I explained to him that if he would guarantee that I would not be in any way hindered in the accomplishment of my task, I would report his views to the ICRC in Geneva. My conditions were as follows:

1. a safe-conduct,

2. freedom of communication with the ICRC,

3. supervision of the Russian prisoners of war not willing to volunteer for the Hungarian army,

4. surveillance and protection of foreign missions and detachments retained in Budapest,

5. contact with Mr. Frick at Stanislau…

I believe it is desirable not to underestimate the influence of the International Red Cross with the new Government and the extent of the humanitarian work it could do for Russian prisoners of war and allied missions” (our translation). ICRC records— Mis. 4.5, vol. 1., folios 95–96.

page 591 note 1 The full text of the “Ordinance of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, No. 2086, concerning the legal position of the International Red Cross in Geneva in the Republic of Councils of Hungary” is as follows (our translation): “The International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva and all its institutions and representatives shall enjoy the protection afforded to neutrals: it shall be placed, where its operations on the territory of the Republic of Councils of Hungary are concerned, under the protection of the Republic's authorities. In the accomplishment of their humanitarian tasks, the Red Cross of Geneva and the Hungarian Red Cross must not be subject to any improper influence, whether political or otherwise. All possible measures should be taken to enable the International Red Cross to carry out freely, on the territory of the Republic of Councils of Hungary, its humanitarian tasks, for only in this way can it bring help to the wounded, the sick and prisoners of war.

I command all civil and military authorities to treat the International Red Cross bodies with all possible consideration and to take steps to protect its institutions and emblems against any violence or misuse whatsoever. The Hungarian Red Cross is represented at the International Red Cross, with the latter's consent, by permanent delegates.

The Government of the Republic of Councils of Hungary, in ensuring, by this ordinance, a privileged position to the International Red Cross on the territory of the Republic, is fully aware that the Red Cross of Geneva is not an alliance of governments but of peoples.” ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/67, vol. 2, folio 187.

page 591 note 2 Letter No. 31, from Mr. Haccius to the ICRC, 3.5.1919. Report on his visit to the Gyüjtöfoghaz prison on 28.4.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/68 and 4.5/70, vol. 2, folios 188/192.

page 592 note 1 Note No. 26 from Mr. Haccius to the ICRC, 26.4.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/79, vol. 3, folio 209.

page 592 note 2 Letter No. 31, from Mr. Haccius to the ICRC, 3.5.1919. Report on his visit to the Gyüjtöfoghaz prison on 28.4.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/68 and 4.5/70, vol. 2, folios 188/192.

page 592 note 3 “Summary of the action by the ICRC Mission at Budapest”, undated, received in Geneva on 19.8.1919. ICRC records— Mis. 4.5/216, vol, 6. p. 556.

page 593 note 1 Rapport général CICR 1912–1920, pp. 201–206.Google Scholar ICRC library—362.191/7.

page 593 note 2 Ordinance No. 62 of 9.7.1919 issued by the People's Commissariat for Public Welfare and Health stated: “The Commissariat for Public Welfare and Health orders the following in order to safeguard the neutrality of the Hungarian Red Cross Society, recognized in conformity with rescript No. 20.086/pol. 1919 of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs.

1. On the territory of the Republic of Councils, the Hungarian Red Cross Society, as the Hungarian branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva, is placed under the special international protection of the Republic of Councils.

2. All persons, and especially the military and political authorities, shall treat the Hungarian Red Cross Society and all its institutions, bodies and personnel in accordance with its neutral character, shall ensure the efficient protection proper to its neutrality, and shall support its work.

3. Those authorities which have seized or requisitioned any property whatsoever, whether movable or fixed, belonging to the Hungarian Red Cross… must… restore all such property…» (our translation).

In the letter in which the President of the Hungarian Red Cross informed Mr. Haccius of the text of the ordinance, he stated that this decree confirmed “with entire certainty the neutrality of our Society on a plane above all politics”. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/134, vol. 4, folios 359/360.

page 594 note 1 Letter No. 1713 from Mr. Burnier, ICRC delegate in Budapest, to the ICRC, 1.4.1920. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5./624, vol. 11. folio 1217.

page 594 note 2 Letter No. 932 from Mr. Haccius, ICRC delegate in Budapest, 22.10.1919. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/358, vol. 8, folio 752.

page 594 note 3 Report No. IV from Mr. Burnier, ICRC delegate in Budapest, to the ICRC, 21.4.1920. ICRC records—Mis. 4.5/645, vol. 12, folio 1261.

page 595 note 1 Rapport général CICR, 1912–1920, p. 201 Google Scholar, ICRC library—362.191/7.