The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 provide that medical personnel and equipment shall in general be identified by the distinctive emblem of the red cross or red crescent. The Second Geneva Convention, applicable to the victims of conflict at sea, specifies that the exterior surfaces of hospital ships and smaller craft used for medical purposes shall be white and recommends that the parties to the conflict use “the most modern methods” to facilitate identification of medical transports at sea (Art. 43).

James Surget made no impact on history. He did, however, make an impression on Washington Ford. The latter sued him in 1866 regarding the destruction of 200 bales of cotton.

In May 1862, Ford owned a plantation in Mississippi, a state then in rebellion against United States authority. The local commander of rebelling forces ordered his troops to burn all cotton along the Mississippi River that was vulnerable to capture by the United States army. Surget assisted in the destruction of Ford's cotton. Ford sued him to recover for its value.

• ICRC President Comelio Sommaruga received the members of the International Law Commission (ILC) at ICRC headquarters on 7 June 1990.

The Commission is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly. Its 34 members are elected from among the most eminent representatives of the world's different legal systems. The Commission is entrusted with the task of promoting the codification and development of international law. It is currently working on the codification of offences against the peace and security of mankind (which include war crimes) and the setting up of an international criminal court.

From late May to July 1990, the President of the ICRC, Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, carried out missions to Liechtenstein, Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Iceland.

• Principality of Liechtenstein

At the official invitation of Mr. Hans Brunhart, Liechtenstein's Head of Government, and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, President of the Liechtenstein Red Cross, the ICRC President, accompanied by Mr. Claudio Caratsch, ICRC Vice-President, went to Vaduz on 28 and 29 May 1990.

The ICRC resumed its regular flights to destinations in Sudan after a six-month interruption during which it had been able to carry out only a few technical flights. As from 3 May ICRC flights were made to the following places in accordance with a flight plan submitted each week to the two parties: Wau, Juba and Malakal from Khartoum; and Kongor, Leer and Bor from Lokichokio (Kenya). The aircraft carried ICRC staff and also seed, tools and various equipment necessary to implement veterinary programmes.