I move:—"That the Red Cross Bill, 1938, be now read a Second Time." The main purpose of this Bill is to provide for the establishment of an Irish Red Cross Society. I think that at the moment we are the only State in Europe without such a society. I suppose that, in the main, Deputies understand the nature of the work done by such societies. The origin of these societies was that in 1863 there was a conference at Geneva representing 16 European States. These representatives met with the idea of working out a scheme for the coordination of the work of societies and groups that had for their object the relief of the wounded in war. That particular conference had no power to give effect to their recommendations, but a second conference was immediately called by the Swiss Federal Council, and accredited representatives of different Governments came to that conference. That conference resulted in the signing of the Geneva Convention of 1864.
The principal articles of that convention provided for the acceptance of the principle that the sick and wounded, the medical and auxiliary services of armies, ambulances, hospitals, and so on, were to be regarded as neutral at all times and in all circumstances. The red cross on a white ground was adopted as the international emblem of this neutrality, and it was agreed that this emblem should be used not only by the army medical services, but also by duly recognised relief societies constituted to act as auxiliaries for the army medical services. These societies came to be known generally as Red Cross Societies. The Red Cross Societies are linked up in an international organisation governed by the International Red Cross Committee.
National Red Cross Societies are affiliated, provided that certain conditions are fulfilled. Societies seeking recognition must themselves be recognised by the Governments of their own countries as an auxiliary to the army medical services, and only one such society is accepted from each country. The society must accept the principle of moral union with the International Committee and moral union with the other societies linked up by the International Committee. Each society must undertake to maintain a continuous relationship with the other societies and the International Committee. Each society is free to adopt the organisation most suitable for its own country. It must be formed so as not to exclude any appropriate branch of medical work in connection with the fighting forces, and it must be open to all the nationals of the country without any distinction, and in particular without distinction of sex, religion, or political opinions.
Since the adoption of the first convention, two other conventions have been signed, one in 1906 and another in 1929, and they were intended to supplement and bring up to date the agreements of the first convention in 1864. We are parties to the convention of 1929, which we signed with certain reservations to which Section 5 (3) of the Bill relates. These conventions aim at protecting the use of the Red Cross symbol. The States parties to the conventions undertook to legislate to make it unlawful and to penalise any unauthorised person or body using the symbol, and also to forbid the use of the Geneva symbols themselves, that is, the white cross on the red ground. The red cross on the white ground was adopted as a compliment to the Swiss Federation, whose national emblem was the white cross on the red ground, Either set of symbols is forbidden by these conventions; the use of them for any other purpose excepting for the purpose of the Red Cross is forbidden. The object was to prevent any imitation, and to protect the emblem of the Swiss Federation.
Besides, its work for the sick and wounded in war and for prisoners of war, the Red Cross has many peace-time activities. The States members of the League agree to "encourage and promote the establishment and cooperation of duly authorised voluntary national Red Cross organisations having as purposes the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world," and these latter objects may be said to be the normal peace-time activities of Red Cross Societies.
Reference to the reports of National Red Cross Societies indicates how magnificently these peace-time activities are being pursued. In America following on the Ohio-Mississippi Valley flood of 1937, the American Red Cross sheltered over 1,000,000 persons in refugee centres while their homes and personal belongings were inundated and whose belongings were destroyed, and at the same time a National Relief Fund amounting to 25,000,000 dollars was quickly raised by the Red Cross to carry out the necessary emergency measures of relief and rehabilitation. The Swedish Red Cross operate throughout the entire country a child welfare organisation. The British Red Cross Society have a special clinic for rheumatism and a blood transfusion service. The Canadian Red Cross Societies have organised first-aid posts on the highways, maintain hospitals in remote districts and conduct-nutrition classes. The foregoing are only a few examples of the works which the various Red Cross Societies of the countries quoted undertake and have been selected mainly to indicate the diversity of activities of National Red Cross Societies generally. In our own country we have had in recent years disasters which, relatively speaking, caused much loss and suffering to some of our own people. I have in mind the Arranmore disaster and the Scottish Bothy disaster for which it was necessary to establish ad hoc committees to raise relief funds. Disasters of this nature would fall to be dealt with by our Irish Red Cross Society if such had existed.
In conclusion I would like to stress an aspect of the Red Cross organisation and that is, that each national society is a voluntary organisation and must rely on public support for funds. Deputies will appreciate that there is in every country a vast field in the alleviation of human suffering which cannot possibly be covered by Governmental services. The establishment of a Red Cross Society will go a long way to supplementing the Government's efforts in this direction. We expect that when the society is established there will be a generous response from our people both in regard to subscriptions and voluntary service.
The details of the Bill can be better examined in the Committee Stage. The marginal headings give the substance of the several paragraphs. First you have the establishment of the Red Cross Society. Powers are given by Order to establish such a society. Secondly, you have the provision that grants and loans may be made to this society. You have power to authorise voluntary aid societies to render assistance to the ordinary medical service. That is a recognition which really constitutes and gives the fundamental character of the Red Cross Society. Then there is the paragraph providing for restriction on the use of the Red Cross and on the use of the arms of the Swiss Confederation. The next section provides for penalties for offences and disposition of forfeited goods. One of the penalties is forfeiture of the goods. Finally, there is the repeal of the Geneva Convention Act of 1911, and there is the establishment of the society here. I recommend this Bill to the House.
