Since the Geneva Conventions were signed on August 12, 1949, the International Committee of the Red Cross has endeavoured to make these texts universal since they constitute the basis of humanitarian law. Recently, it has put the emphasis on their dissemination in Africa because, in the critical phase which this continent is going through, it seems particularly desirable that all African states feel themselves bound by these treaties.

Mr. G. C. Senn, delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross recently visited the central prison of Stanleyville, chief town of the Orientale Province of the Congo (formerly Belgian). At the time of the visit there were a total of 800 prisoners amongst whom numbered one hundred Katanga gendarmes captured by the National Congolese Army. There were in addition some thirty Congolese political detainees, the remainder being prisoners of common law. On this occasion Mr. Senn was given considerable facilities by the local authorities and especially by General Lundula, Commander of the Congolese forces stationed in Orientale Province. He received the nominal roll of the Katanga detainees which he transmitted to the military authorities of Elisabethville, which in turn informed the families concerned. He is awaiting replies from the latter which he will pass on to the prisoners.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has received from the Federal Political Department in Berne, the certified true copy of the instrument by which the Government of Ireland ratified the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on September 27, 1962. Such ratification will take effect from March 27, 1963.

Continuing our general description of the activities of the Central Tracing Agency at the headquarters of the ICRC at Geneva, we would point out that requests for information concerning military personnel and civilians of East European origin, missing during the course of the Second World War continue to reach Geneva in fairly large numbers.

Following on statements suggesting that “observers” of the International Committee of the Red Cross be placed on the frontier between Northern Rhodesia and Katanga, press correspondents have asked the International Committee of the Red Cross if it would be in a position to undertake tasks of this nature. The International Committee of the Red Cross wishes at once to stress that it has received no official requests on this subject.

Mr. Thant, UNO Secretary-General, replied to a communication which he had received from Mr. Léopold Boissier, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The following are principal extracts from this letter :

The Joint Commission entrusted with the distribution of the income of the Empress Shôken Fund met in Geneva on 27 February 1962. It noted the% statement of accounts and the situation of the Fund at 31 December 1961. It decided to distribute a sum of Sw.Fr. 12,000 from the balance available of Sw.Fr. 12,472,05.

On January 31, 1962, H.S.H. The Princess Grace of Monaco, President of the Red Cross of Monaco, paid a visit to the International Committee in Geneva1, She was accompanied by several personalities, notably by Mr. Henry Soum, Minister of Monaco in Berne.

The International Committee has offered its services to the National Red Cross Societies of the Indian Union and of the Chinese People's Republic. In a telegram sent simultaneously to New Delhi and to Peking, it declared itself prepared to exercise its humanitarian activity on behalf of the victims of the conflict, and especially of prisoners.