There is no doubt or dilemma, today, that peace is one of the basic aims of the Red Cross. Efforts and strivings to reach this aim are obvious from numerous resolutions of the International conferences and other bodies of the International Red Cross. Also, peace has been stressed as an aim of the Red Cross action within the framework of the first principle of the Red Cross and is clearly connected with that principle.

We quote below the text of an appeal launched by the ICRC, above the signature of its President, Mr. S. A. Gonard, to the Nigerian and Biafran representatives to the Peace Conference which started in Kampala on May 23, 1968.

In accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and with the agreement of the Powers concerned, the International Committee of the Red Cross has, for the past ten months, been pursuing its humanitarian action on behalf of the victims of the conflict of June 1967, through the intermediary of its delegations in the United Arab Republic, Israel, Jordan, Syria and the Lebanon, and of its sub-delegations in Jerusalem (occupied territory on the West Bank of the Jordan), Gaza (occupied territory of Gaza and the Sinai), and Kuneitra (occupied territory of the Golan Plateau).

Release of Prisoners. — As a result of various representations made by the ICRC to obtain the right of visiting and talking without witnesses with El Fatah prisoners captured during the operations at Karameh on 21 March, 80 detainees have been released and repatriated by the Israeli authorities. The latter have, moreover, informed the ICRC that 66 detainees are still held in Jenin prison on Jordan West Bank territory.