The Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, for the protection of war victims, postulate the principle of humane treatment for man, the victim of war. They afford protection in a specific field, that is to say, they affect only “protected” persons and only in the event of armed conflict of an international character, but not in conflicts which are not international. However, despite their limitations, the Conventions do afford protection in a very important field, in situations involving the greatest risk of suffering for mankind and in which lack of protection could have distressing consequences. It is for this reason that these Conventions are of such great importance. They form a fundamental component in that system of protection of man's basic rights which is gradually being developed through the medium of contemporary international law.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition, on September 2, 1965, of the Red Cross Society of Uganda by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam has in its turn replied, in a letter which will be found below, to an appeal made on June 11 by the ICRC to the four belligerents concerning the application of the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, on the protection of the victims of war.

Some months ago, the President of the ICRC paid a visit to the Mexican Red Cross and was able to see the importance and effectiveness of that Society's work, both in Mexico City as well as in other large towns. He met the President of the Mexican Red Cross, Mr. Barrbso Chavez, and various leading personalities with whom he discussed the respective activities of that National Society and of the ICRC.

It will be recalled that the International Committee of the Red Cross addressed to the Governments of the Republic of Viet Nam, of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, as well as of the United States of America an appeal urging them to respect, in present conditions, the humanitarian provisions of the Geneva Conventions to which these States have acceded. This appeal was also sent to the National Liberation Front. In its number of September 1965, the International Review published the replies received by the ICRC. The one dated August 10, 1965, emanated from the United States Government and the other of August 11, 1965, was sent by the Government of the Republic of Viet Nam.

We have on several occasions mentioned the activity in the field hospital installed by the ICRC at Uqhd in the Yemeni desert. Last April we published an article entitled “A day at the Uqhd Field Hospital“ by a nurse who worked there in 1964 and who described her daily life at Uqhd and the continuous difficulties encountered and which are still being encountered by the men and women carrying out this humanitarian work in conditions which the climate and the isolation render particularly arduous.

It was of interest to draw up a report describing this action, but above all from the medical point of view presenting a rapid summary of two years' work. This report, which the ICRC will be submitting to the XXth International Conference of the Red Cross, is now given below