The Red Cross

During the past month there was held in Damascus the conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies of the Near East, attended by delegates of the international League of Red Cross Societies, the Lebanese Red Cross, and the Syrian, Iraqi, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Turkish Red Crescents, together with delegates of the nutrition committee attached to the United Nations.

This conference was held on the occasion of the expiration of the term of work of the international Red Cross League, and of the visit of Count de Rougé, secretary-general of that League.

The delegates presented reports on their work for the Palestinian refugees; in fact this subject was the pivot of their discussions, with stress and insistence upon the necessity of returning these refugees to their country.

And Dr. Youssef Hitti delivered the address of the Middle East Relief institution.

The delegation of the Lebanese Red Cross was made up of the ladies:

the wife of His Excellency Georges Tabet, the wife of Mr. Salim Saab, the wife of Mr. Alfred Kettaneh, the wife of Mr. Mohyi al-Din Qaranful, and the wife of Dr. Habib Rihan; and Dr. Baqlini and Dr. Salim Idris.

It is worth mentioning that His Excellency the Prime Minister of the Syrian Government, Khaled Bey al-Azm, took a personal interest in this conference, and his government showed exceeding hospitality and great zeal for the success of the conference.

The greatest credit for the organization of the conference goes to the Syrian Red Crescent institution, which worked with all its might until it had assured the conference an orderly course that earned the praise of all.