The ICRC has drawn up a very brief summary of these Conventions, in addition to its various publications to promote their dissemination and which have been mentioned in earlier issues of the International Review. This summary is proposed as a basic minimum of instruction to the armed forces and is applicable in certain circumstances. The authorities concerned, none the less, have still a duty, in general, to give more detailed and complete instruction, in order to spread as widely as possible the knowledge of these humanitarian statutes to which 104 States are now signatory.

In 1948, the XVIIth International Conference of the Red Cross in Stockholm adopted a resolution (No. XXXI) recommending National Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Lion and Sun Societies, as well as the ICRC and the League, to “include in their activities, should the necessity arise, legal and social assistance to stateless persons, refugees and war victims”. Since that time a number of National Societies have set up legal assistance departments and various activities undertaken by the ICRC and the League in Palestine, Hungary, Egypt and elsewhere have demonstrated the help which refugees have received and continue to receive from the International Red Cross.

The Annales de droit international médical (No. 11, 1964) includes an article written jointly by a Colonel, Dr. A. Guérisse and two Doctors of Laws, Mr. A. Jacquemin and Mr. G. Kellens. The title is “The Armed Forces of the United Nations and their Humanitarian and Medical Mission”. Consideration is first given to what the United Nations Armed Forces are, what were the reasons for their organization and in what circumstances they have been called upon to act. The authors then explain the need for the attachment of a medical service to these armed forces and, in a chapter of which the main substance is reproduced below, they analyse the problem of the application of the Geneva Conventions by the U.N. forces.

For some years past the International Committee of the Red Cross has made a point of marking twenty years of service by members of its staff. A ceremony took place on December 17, 1964 at which several members of the ICRC were present. Mr. S. A. Gonard expressed the gratitude of the institution of which he is President to the following: Miss A. Besson, Mrs. D. Braun, Mrs. M. Dumur, Mrs. E. Huguenin, Mrs. S. Kallenbach, Mr. R. Lafond, Mr. A. Perret, Mr. J. Santandrea, Mrs. M. Schmauss, Miss S. Schumacher, Mr. W. Uhlig, and Mr. M. Rouge