Jealousy?

The International Red Cross opened its eleventh annual conference at Geneva.

Representatives of the American Red Cross were not present.

According to a letter read to the assembly by Professor de Page, President of the Belgian Red Cross, the American representatives (who are stationed in Paris) were " wounded" by the substance of a report recently published by the International Red Cross in Geneva, and for that reason had decided not to attend.

This report had said that "supremacy of influence" in the Red Cross should not belong to those who were financially most powerful. " No matter how illusory its point of view may appear, no matter how much courage may be necessary to say it, the International Committee believes that the influence of all national societies should have the same weight, although in different fields, in the International Red Cross. And in advancing this it knows that it may be misunderstood. It knows also that it will not offend the high idealism of those who have been and know how to be financially so generous. It believes also, however, that the money which enables the creation of necessary officials should not give to these officials the impression that they are masters of an institution like the International Red Cross." In order to understand the situation it is necessary to know that there are two international Red Cross organizations-- the International Red Cross Committee (sometimes known as the Geneva Red Cross) and the International League of Red Cross Societies (headquarters in Paris). The former was founded on the Geneva convention of 1864 (now replaced by the Convention of 1906). The latter organization was founded in 1919 by the late Henry P. Davison. The Geneva or International Red Cross is reputed to be jealous of the preponderating influence played by the American Red Cross in the League of Red Cross Societies--an influence which the Geneva Red Cross apparently finds inimical to its own prestige. It is also reputed to be jealous of the superior business efficiency of the American Red Cross. M. Ador, President of the Geneva Red Cross Committee and a former President of Switzerland, vigorously denied before the Geneva conference that there had been any intention of hurting the feelings of America. He sent the following telegram to John Barton Payne in Washington, Chairman of the American Red Cross: " The International Committee of the Red Cross deplores the absence of representatives of the American Red Cross at the eleventh international conference. It never had the intentions which have been attributed to it, and cordially renews to the American Red Cross the feelings of gratitude and admiration which were the object of the eighth resolution proposed by the committee, and adopted by the tenth conference in 1921." Chairman Payne replied: " I regret profoundly any cause of misunderstanding. The Red Cross is of such great importance to the world that controversy might be an international calamity. The representatives of the American Red Cross are in Europe and, as they possess our entire confidence, are in a position to treat the situation wisely." From Paris, Ernest P. Bicknell, head of the American delegation that was supposed to attend the Geneva conference, sent Dr. de Page of the Belgian delegation the following telegram : "The American delegates; have no intention of going to Geneva unless the report of the merger negotiations is repudiated by the conference".