Two years ago the Red Cross celebrated its centenary. A hundred years of continuous growth, a movement which has won over the whole world and saved millions of lives. One should therefore stop for a moment, see what stage has been reached and show deserving gratitude to those who set it on its way. One should, however, also look to the future. This was the occasion to add a factor still missing in the Red Cross structure, namely a centre for study and research, for training and instruction in all branches of Red Cross activity.