success, made upon its part several new attempts, which invariably met
with absolute non-attention. Happily the history of the Red Cross was
there to prove that the most tenacious resistance is not indefinite, and
that sooner or later the sentiments of the most recalcitrant governments
are modified under the control of circumstances. How many we have seen
who at first believed their adhesion useless, or even dangerous, and who
have been led to repentance on the occurrence of wars in which their
armies were to be, or had been, engaged, because they comprehended at
that moment only to what point their fears were chimerical or their
indifference injurious to those depending upon them for protection.
In the United States time has done its work as elsewhere, though peace
has long reigned there. The change of sentiment which has been produced
in regard to the Red Cross has revealed itself recently on the sixth of
December, 1881, in the message of President Arthur at the opening of the
fourth session of the Forty-seventh Congress. We read there the
following paragraph:
"At its last extra session the Senate demanded the text of the Geneva
Convention for aiding the wounded in time of war. I hope that this fact
proves the interest which the Senate feels in this question, and that
there will result from it, the adhesion of the United States to this
humane and commendable treaty."
It seems, then, that we touch the port; the matter is seriously
considered, and it will be with lively satisfaction that we shall
register the result which has been so long the end of our desires.
We will not terminate these retrospective considerations, without
telling what we know of the causes which have recently led to decisive
steps in the question.
It is, above all, to a woman that this result is owing, and the name of
that woman is not unknown to our readers. We spoke to them several years
ago of Miss Clara Barton, one of the heroines of the American war, where
she reproduced the charitable exploits of Miss Nightingale; she was
honored at the conclusion of the war with a national recompense.[A]
[A] This statement is not exact; indeed, it does some injustice as well
to Miss Barton as to the American Congress, and was doubtless derived
from misstatements promulgated in the United States, the result of a
general misunderstanding of the facts, and an error, of course, unknown
to a foreign writer.
Precisely what the Thirty-seventh Congress did was to pass the following
joint resolution of both houses, and in accordance with the same to pay
over to Miss Barton the sum mentioned in it for the uses and purposes
therein set forth:
March 10, 1866.
_A resolution providing for expenses incurred in searching for missing
soldiers of the Army of the United States, and for further prosecution
of the same._
_Whereas_, Miss Clara Barton has, during the late war of the rebellion,
expended from her own resources large sums of money in endeavoring to
discover missing soldiers of the armies of the United States, and in
communicating intelligence to their relatives; therefore,
_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled_, That the sum of fifteen
thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of any
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to reimburse Miss
Clara Barton for the amount so expended by her, and to aid in the
further prosecution of the search for missing soldiers, and the printing
necessary to the furtherance of the said object shall hereafter be done
by the Public Printer.
Approved March 10, 1866.
[14 Vol. U.S. Statutes at Large, p. 350.]
This, therefore, was not recompense for services; it was reimbursement
for money expended; it was money expended by a private citizen for
public uses, and this, mainly, after the close of the war. The
government recognized its value to the people, and refunded the money,
and that without solicitation on Miss Barton's part.
This work was a fitting, even necessary, result of her four years'
voluntary and unpaid services on the field, not as an ordinary nurse,
but as a sort of independent sanitary commission, whom the government,
the soldiers, and the people came at last to implicitly trust, for they
never found their trust betrayed nor themselves disappointed by any want
of discretion, sagacity, or energy on her part. It cannot be set forth
here, it can only be alluded to most briefly. In its details it must
form a chapter in the story of a life singularly original, successful,
and beneficent.
--[Report of the American (National) Association of the Red Cross of
1883.]
Then, being in Europe at the time of the French and German war, she
again flew to the battlefield. Returning at last to her own country with
enfeebled health, she determined to give what strength remained to her
to the service of the Red Cross, and took for her task to plead its
cause with the influential men of the American government. Quitting her
home at Dansville, she passed long months at Washington to carry
conviction to the minds of the President, of his ministers, of members
of Congress, writing for the journals, publishing pamphlets to spread
the ideas the triumph of which she had at heart. She had need of much
perseverance and energy to avoid renouncing her plan, for she waited
long before finding a favorable opportunity. It was not until the
accession of President Garfield that she could catch a glimpse of
success. She then found in the Chief Magistrate of the nation a man who
warmly espoused her cause, and in the Secretary of State, Mr. Blaine, an
auxiliary as zealous as he was devoted. We have seen by the quotation
which we have borrowed from the last Presidential message that Mr.
Arthur shares the sentiments and ideas of his predecessor on the subject
of the Geneva Convention, and it is hardly probable that he will
encounter upon this point opposition from Congress.
The name of Miss Barton will probably not figure in the official
documents which will be the fruit of her labors, but here, where we have
entire liberty to render homage to her devotion, we are happy to be able
to proclaim her imperishable title to the gratitude of the Red Cross.
To the name of Miss Barton we should join that of M. Edouard Seve, who,
after having rendered important service to the Red Cross in South
America, where he represented Belgium to Chili, has continued to use his
activity in favor of the same cause in the United States since he has
been called to the position of consul-general at Philadelphia. His
efforts have certainly contributed to render the Government at
Washington favorable to the Geneva Convention.
The preceding article was already printed when we received from the
indefatigable Miss Barton a new pamphlet upon the Red Cross and the
Geneva Convention. This little work is destined to initiate the
Americans into the origin and history of the work, with which they are
as yet but imperfectly acquainted, and for which it is the aspiration of
the author to awaken their interest; in particular, we find there the
confirmation of the steps of which we have spoken above, and especially
the text of the two letters addressed by the International Committee,
one on the ninth of August, 1877, to President Hayes, the other on the
thirteenth of June, to Secretary of State Blaine.
The pamphlet which we have announced has been published by the American
National Society of the Red Cross, with which we have not yet had
occasion to make our readers acquainted. This society, recently
established at the suggestion of Miss Barton, and of which she has been
made president, is only waiting for the official adhesion of the United
States to the Geneva Convention to put itself in relation with the
societies of other countries. We will wait until then to speak of it and
to give the details of its organization.
ACCESSION OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE TREATY OF GENEVA AND TO THE ADDITIONAL
ARTICLES.
On the first day of March, 1882, the President, by his signature,
gave the accession of the United States to the Treaty of Geneva of August
22, 1864, and also to that of October 20, 1868, and transmitted to the
Senate the following message, declaration, and proposed adoption of
the same:
_Message from the President of the United States, transmitting an
accession of the United States to the Convention concluded at
Geneva on the twenty-second August, 1864, between various powers,
for the amelioration of the wounded of armies in the field, and
to the additional articles thereto, signed at Geneva on the
twentieth October, 1868._
March 3, 1882.--Read; accession read the first time referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and, together with the message,
ordered to be printed in confidence, for the use of the Senate.
March 16, 1882.--Ratified and injunction of secrecy removed
therefrom.
_To the Senate of the United States:_
I transmit to the Senate for its action thereon, the accession of
the United States to the convention concluded at Geneva on the
twenty-second August, 1864, between various powers, for the
amelioration of the wounded of armies in the field, and to the
additional articles thereto, signed at Geneva on the twentieth of
October, 1868.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
WASHINGTON, _March 3, 1882_.
_Whereas_, on the twenty-second day of August, 1864, a convention
was concluded at Geneva, in Switzerland, between the Grand Duchy of
Baden and the Swiss Confederation, the Kingdom of Belgium, the
Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Empire, the
Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of the
Netherlands; the Kingdom of Portugal, the Kingdom of Prussia, and
the Kingdom of Würtemberg, for the amelioration of the wounded in
armies in the field, the tenor of which convention is as follows:
(See treaty and additional articles, already inserted.)
Now, therefore, the President of the United States of America, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, hereby declares that
the United States accede to the said convention of the twenty-second
August, 1864, and also accede to the said convention of October 20,
1868.
Done at Washington this first day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, and of the Independence
of the United States the one hundred and sixth.
(Seal.) CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
By the President.
FRED'K T. FRELINGHUYSEN,
_Secretary of State_.
The same day the president of the American Association sent by cablegram
to President Moynier, of the International Committee at Geneva, the glad
tidings that the United States had at last joined in the great humane
work of the world by ratifying the treaties of the Red Cross; and on the
twenty-fourth of the same month, President Moynier replied as follows:
COMITE INTERNATIONAL DE SECOURS
AUX MILITAIRES BLESSES,
GENEVA, _March 24, 1882_.
MISS CLARA BARTON, _President of the American Society of the Red
Cross, Washington_:
MADEMOISELLE: At last, on the seventeenth instant, I received your
glorious telegram. I delayed replying to it in order to communicate
its contents to my colleagues of the International Committee, so as
to be able to thank you in the name of all of us and to tell you of
the joy it gives us. You must feel happy too, and proud to have at
last attained your object, thanks to a perseverance and a zeal which
surmounted every obstacle.
Please, if opportunity offers, to be our interpreter to President
Arthur and present him our warmest congratulations.
I suppose your government will now notify the Swiss Federal Council
of its decision in the matter, and the latter will then inform the
other Powers which have signed the Red Cross Treaty.
Only after this formality shall have been complied with can we
occupy ourselves with fixing the official international status of
your American society. We have, however, already considered the
circular which we intend to address to all the societies of the Red
Cross, and with regard thereto we have found that it will be
necessary for us as a preliminary measure to be furnished with a
document certifying that the American society has attained the
second of its objects, _i.e._, that it has been (officially)
recognized by the American Government.
It is important that we be able to certify that your government is
prepared to accept your services in case of war; that it will
readily enter into co-operation with you, and will encourage the
centralization under your direction of all the voluntary aid. We
have no doubt that you will readily obtain from the competent
authorities an official declaration to that effect, and we believe
that this matter will be merely a formality, _but we attach the
greatest importance to the fact in order to cover our
responsibility, especially in view of the pretensions of rival
societies which might claim to be acknowledged by us_.
It is your society alone and none other that we will recognize,
because it inspires us with confidence, and _we would be placed in a
false position if you failed to obtain for it a privileged position
by a formal recognition by the government_.
We hope that you will appreciate the motives of caution which guide
us in this matter, and that you may soon enable us to act in the
premises.
Wishing to testify to you its gratitude for the services you have
already rendered to the Red Cross, the committee decided to offer to
you one of the medals which a German engraver caused to be struck
off in 1870 in honor of the Red Cross. It will be sent to you in a
few days. It is of very small intrinsic value indeed, but, such as
it is, we have no other means of recompensing the most meritorious
of our assistants. Please to regard it only as a simple memorial,
and as a proof of the esteem and gratitude we feel for you.
Accept, mademoiselle, the assurance of my most distinguished
sentiments.
G. MOYNIER, _President_.
[Illustration: Copyright 1898, by Clara Barton.
SOME RED CROSS DECORATIONS PRESENTED TO CLARA BARTON.
_The Iron Cross of Merit presented by Emperor William I.
and Empress Augusta, in recognition of services in the
Franco-German War of 1870-71. The German Medal of
Honor presented by the Comité International in
recognition of services in securing the adhesion
of the United States to the treaty of the Red Cross.
The Servian Red Cross presented by Queen Natali of
Servia._]
[Illustration: Copyright 1898, by Clara Barton.
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORIC TREE.
_Showing the development of the Red Cross during the
first twenty-five years of its existence. The city of
Geneva, its origin. The central branch represents the
work of the Comité International. The right branch the
formation of the national societies or committees. The
left branch the date of adhesion to the treaty by the
various nations._]
The requirements contained in the foregoing letter, in regard to
the recognition of the American Association of the Red Cross, were
fully and generously complied with by the various branches of the
Government of the United States, and the documents conveying the
official recognition were transmitted by the Honorable Secretary of
State to the American consul at Geneva, with instructions to deliver
them to the International Committee.
The following is the proclamation by President Arthur announcing
to the people the adoption by the United States of the Treaty of
Geneva, and the Additional Articles concerning the Navy:
By the President of the United States of America:
A PROCLAMATION.
_Whereas_, on the twenty-second day of August, 1864, a convention
was concluded at Geneva, in Switzerland, between the Grand Duchy of
Baden and the Swiss Confederation, the Kingdom of Belgium, the
Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Empire, the
Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the Kingdom of Portugal, the Kingdom of Prussia, and
the Kingdom of Würtemberg, for the amelioration of the wounded in
armies in the field, the tenor of which convention is hereinafter
subjoined:
_And whereas_, the several contracting parties to the said
convention exchanged the ratification thereof at Geneva on the
twenty-second day of June, 1865;
_And whereas_, the several states hereinafter named have adhered to
the said convention in virtue of Article IX. thereof, to wit:
Sweden, December 13, 1864; Greece, January 5-17, 1865; Great
Britain, February 18, 1865; Mecklenburg-Schwerin, March 9, 1865;
Turkey, July 5, 1865; Würtemberg, June 22, 1866; Hesse, June 2,
1866; Bavaria, June 30, 1866; Austria, July 21, 1866; Persia,
December 5, 1874; Salvador, December 30, 1874; Montenegro, November
17-29, 1875; Servia, March 24, 1876; Bolivia, October 16, 1879;
Chili, November 15, 1879; Argentine Republic, November 25, 1879;
Peru, April 22, 1880.
_And whereas_, the Swiss Confederation, in virtue of the said
Article IX. of said convention, has invited the United States of
America to accede thereto;
_And whereas_, on the twentieth October, 1868, the following
additional articles were proposed and signed at Geneva, on behalf of
Great Britain, Austria, Baden, Bavaria, Belgium, Denmark, France,
Italy, Netherlands, North Germany, Sweden and Norway, Switzerland,
Turkey and Würtemberg, the tenor of which Additional Articles is
hereinafter subjoined (see page 74);
_And whereas_, the President of the United States of America, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate, did, on the first day of
March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, declare that the
United States accede to the said convention of the twenty-second of
August, 1864, and also accede to the said convention of October 20,
1868;
_And whereas_, on the ninth day of June, one thousand eight hundred
and eighty-two, the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation, in
virtue of the final provision of a certain minute of the exchange of
the ratifications of the said convention at Berne, December 22,
1864, did, by a formal declaration, accept the said adhesion of the
United States of America, as well in the name of the Swiss
Confederation as in that of the other contracting states;
_And whereas_, furthermore, the Government of the Swiss
Confederation has informed the Government of the United States that
the exchange of the ratifications of the aforesaid Additional
Articles of the twentieth October, 1868, to which the United States
of America have, in like manner, adhered as aforesaid, has not yet
taken place between the contracting parties, and that these articles
cannot be regarded as a treaty in full force and effect;
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Chester A. Arthur, President of
the United States of America, have caused the said Convention Treaty
of August 22, 1864, to be made public, to the end that the same and
every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with
good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof; reserving,
however, the promulgation of the hereinbefore mentioned Additional
Articles of October 20, 1868, notwithstanding the accession of the
United States of America thereto, until the exchange of the
ratifications thereof between the several contracting states shall
have been effected, and the said Additional Articles shall have
acquired full force and effect as an international treaty.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-sixth day of July, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, and
of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and
seventh.
(L.S.)
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
By the President,
FRED'K T. FRELINGHUYSEN,
_Secretary of State_.
_United States of America, Department of State, to all to whom these
presents shall come, greeting_:
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original on file
in the Department of State.
In testimony whereof I, John Davis, Acting Secretary of State of the
United States, have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal
of the Department of State to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this ninth day of August, A.D. 1882,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the one
hundred and seventh.
(L.S.)
JOHN DAVIS.
Thus was the American branch of the Red Cross welcomed into
the fellowship of kindred associations in thirty-one other nations, the
most prosperous and civilized on the globe, its position assured, and its
future course made simple, direct and untroubled.
The official bulletin of the International Committee also hailed the
accession of the United States to the treaty, in an article of
characteristic caution and of great significance. In that article, which
is quoted in full hereafter, the distinction was carefully pointed out
between that which had already been fully agreed to, and had become
invested with all the force and solemnity of international treaties, and
the proposed amendment which had been drawn up and considered with a
view to ultimate adoption. This proposed amendment had received the
sanction and signatures of the International Committee at Geneva,
without ever having been formally adopted by any nation. The United
States had, at the same moment adopted both, thus becoming the
thirty-second nation to adhere to the treaty of August 22, 1864, and the
_first_ to adopt the proposed amendment of October 20, 1868.
[_International Bulletin for April, 1882._]
ADHESION OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CONVENTION OF GENEVA.
Referring to the article inserted in our preceding bulletin, p. 42,
we are happy to be able to announce that the act of adhesion which
we presented was signed at Washington the sixteenth of March, in
pursuance of a vote by which the members of the Senate gave their
approval with unanimity. Our readers will doubtless be surprised, as
we are, that after the long and systematic resistance of the
Government of the United States against rallying to the Convention
of Geneva, there cannot be found in the American legislature a
single representative of the opposition. So complete a reversal of
opinion cannot be explained, unless we admit that the chief officers
of the nation had cherished, up to the present time, prejudices in
regard to the Convention of Geneva--prejudices which vanished as
soon as they fully comprehended what was expected of them, and
recognized that there was nothing compromising in it to the
political condition of their country.
With the zeal of new converts, they have even gone beyond the mark,
inasmuch as they have voted their adhesion not only to the
convention of the twenty-second of August, 1864, but also to the
plan of Additional Articles of the twentieth of October, 1868, which
was not the matter in question, since they had never had the force
of law; we give this news only under every reserve, because we have
received contradictory information on the subject. If this defect in
form is found in the official document which will be sent to the
Swiss Federal Council one could fear it might retard the so much
desired conclusion of this important affair, but it need not be too
much regretted, since it will enable us to understand the opinion of
the great Transatlantic Republic upon maritime questions as they
relate to the Red Cross.
The action of the United States, mentioned in this article, was perhaps
somewhat characteristic. It seemed to give itself to the movement of the
Red Cross with a gracious earnestness seldom seen in the cautious forms
of diplomatic action, and it certainty was in very decided contrast with
its former hesitancy.
No doubt could now rest in any mind that the adhesion of the United
States was, at last, hearty and sincere, and calculated to allay any
distrust which its former isolation and declination of the treaty might
have anywhere engendered.
This action of the Government of the United States also rendered the
position of the National Association exceptionally satisfactory, and
introduced it to the International Committee at Geneva and all the
affiliated societies under circumstances calculated to promote in the
greatest degree its usefulness and harmony, and to add to the
gratification of all who personally have any part in the operations of
the American Association.