The termination of captivity for reasons of health is one of the rights of prisoners of war stipulated by the Geneva Conventions.

Article 109 of the Third Convention lays down that Parties to the conflict are bound to send back to their own country, regardless of number or rank, seriously wounded and seriously sick prisoners of war.

The same article stipulates that the belligerent Parties shall endeavour to make arrangements for the “accommodation in neutral countries”, as a subsidiary solution, of all cases where captivity should be terminated for humanitarian reasons, but where, for military motives, the States concerned are unable to agree to repatriation. We are here above all thinking of aged prisoners, of those who have undergone a long period of captivity or of those whose mental health has deteriorated.

Two years ago the Red Cross celebrated its centenary. A hundred years of continuous growth, a movement which has won over the whole world and saved millions of lives. One should therefore stop for a moment, see what stage has been reached and show deserving gratitude to those who set it on its way. One should, however, also look to the future. This was the occasion to add a factor still missing in the Red Cross structure, namely a centre for study and research, for training and instruction in all branches of Red Cross activity.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies welcomed at the headquarters of the ICRC Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi during their visit to Switzerland.

Mr. Samuel A. Gonard, President of the ICRC, greeted them in the name of both institutions.