In one of its previous numbers, the International Review mentioned that the International Tracing Service (ITS) had in 1965 celebrated its 20th anniversary of existence and that this also marked ten years of the ICRC's presence at Arolsen. We also gave some figures which showed a constant increase in inquiries reaching Arolsen between 1951 and 1965, about 1,900,000 in all. It can already be seen from annual statistics, that even twenty years after the end of the war, the public still has to resort to the ITS to obtain information and documents. We would moreover recall that on June 30, 1965 that Service numbered 234 on its staff.

The XXth International Conference of the Red Cross in Vienna, in October 1965, was a landmark in our institution's history.

The Conference was of special importance to the ICRC as it advanced humanitarian law, of which the Committee is a promoter. It also adopted in no uncertain fashion the Red Cross principles, in the drafting of which the Committee took a major part.

Events in the course of the year under review laid a heavy responsibility on the ICRC and confronted it with large-scale practical tasks. In spring there was the crisis in the Dominican Republic, to the abatement of which the Committee's delegates contributed. Later there broke out the Indo-Pakistan conflict in which the Geneva Conventions had to be applied and implemented. As the months went by, the war in Vietnam was intensified, increasing the suffering which the ICRC endeavoured to alleviate in spite of the obstacles placed in its path.

The “Newsletter of the West Pakistan Red Cross” (Lahore, 1965) has published an article on “Family Planning” in West Pakistan. We reproduce it because it demonstrates that new fields of action are always open to our movement.

The Polish Red Cross has recently sent the ICRC the official translation of the Act which concerns it. In view of this legislative regulation's interest, we now reproduce its English version.

On December 23, 1965, took place the now traditional ceremony in the course of which the International Committee of the Red Cross marks its gratitude to members of the staff with twenty years of service to their credit.