Centenary of the International Committee of the Red Cross (440th Circular)

Extract

On February 17, 1963, the International Committee of the Red Cross will have had a hundred years of existence.

On February 9, 1863, the Public Welfare Society of Geneva met at the instigation of its President, Gustave Moynier, to study the proposals which Henry Dunant had formulated at the end of his book “A Memory of Solferino” : first of all to create already in peace-time aid societies which in time of war would assist the army medical service ; then to conclude an international Convention which would serve as a basis for their action. The Public Welfare Society then appointed from amongst its members a Committee of five, in order to prepare a memorandum on the subject which would be presented to a forthcoming relief congress.