By July 31, 1957, sixty-six States were bound to the Geneva Conventions, either by ratification or accession. From that date to May 31, 1965, a further 40 States acceded to these Conventions, bringing the total to 106. Several of the newly independent States confirmed their participation by delivering to the Custodian Government—the Swiss Federal Council—a declaration of continuity, that is to say, a document in which they confirmed that from the date of their independence they were committed by the ratification signed by the Powers to which they had succeeded.

The delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross brought its aid to civilian and political prisoners.

One of the ICRC representatives in Santo Domingo, Mr. Pierre Jequier, general delegate for Latin America, visited prisons of the “Constitutional Government” presided over by Colonel Francisco Caamano Deno and of the “Government of National Reconstruction” of General Antonio Imbert. There were no restrictions placed by either on visits.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has received from the Federal Political Department in Berne a communication informing it that the Canadian Government notified the Swiss Federal Council on May 14, 1965 of the ratification by that State of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, such ratification taking effect on November 14, 1965.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has received from the Federal Political Department in Berne a communication informing it that the Canadian Government notified the Swiss Federal Council on May 14, 1965 of the ratification by that State of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, such ratification taking effect on November 14, 1965.

The International Review mentioned last month that, thanks to the joint initiative of Mr. Pierre Jequier, delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Dominican Red Cross, a truce was concluded in Santo Domingo, and was able to be prolonged, thus putting an end to the fighting which had caused so much loss in human lives and material. These efforts on the part of the Red Cross were supported by the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

The XIIIth Quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses which was held from June 16 to 24 at Frankfurt-am-Main voted, unanimously and by acclamation, the following text to be included in the “International Code of Nursing Ethics”: “It is important that all nurses be aware of the principles of the Red Cross and the privileges as well as the obligations of nurses under the terms of the Geneva Conventions of 1949”. Miss Anny Pfirter, head of the medical personnel section, representing the International Committee of the Red Cross, guardian of the Red Cross principles and promoter of the Geneva Conventions, was given an ovation on that occasion by the participants.

The XIIIth Quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses which was held from June 16 to 24 at Frankfurt-am-Main voted, unanimously and by acclamation, the following text to be included in the “International Code of Nursing Ethics”: “It is important that all nurses be aware of the principles of the Red Cross and the privileges as well as the obligations of nurses under the terms of the Geneva Conventions of 1949”. Miss Anny Pfirter, head of the medical personnel section, representing the International Committee of the Red Cross, guardian of the Red Cross principles and promoter of the Geneva Conventions, was given an ovation on that occasion by the participants.

On April 11, 1965, the Joint Commission of the Empress Shôken Fund granted an allocation to the Red Cross of Sierra Leone of 10,000 Swiss francs, to be utilized, in accordance with the wish expressed by that National Society, for the purchase of a Land Rover. We have pleasure in announcing that the Red Cross of Sierra Leone has now effected purchase of this vehicle, which will be used for work in three provincial branches which has until now beer seriously hampered by a lack of adequate means of transport.

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.

What can young people do and what can one do for the young today? These problems were studied by the International Consultative Committee on Youth Activities, set up by unesco, at its first session which was held in Paris in May 1965. The Committee, which consisted of leading specialists from 23 countries of Europe, Africa, Asia and America, was instituted in order to advise the Organization in the preparation of programmes concerning youth activities and assist it in putting these into effect. In this capacity it will, for example, study problems raised by the intensification of extra-curricula studies and the long-term service of young volunteers. The latter, especially if they possess technical qualifications, are capable of giving a considerable amount of aid to the developing countries, as has already been shown by work carried out in this direction by no less than 250 organizations which have sent out some 17,000 young people to various countries.