Vie Financing of the International Committee of the Red Cross

Mr. Burbridge reported that .the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross in a letter to the Department had reminded the Canadian Government as well as other governments which signed the 1949 Geneva Conventions, of Resolution 11 of the 1949 Diplomatic Conference which recognized the necessity of providing regular financial support for the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Committee estimated its 1950 budget to be 3,000,000 Swiss francs. The President had stated that "it would appear reasonable to assess the share of the American Continent at 1,000,000" Swiss francs. The Committee had not suggested any scale for individual contributions and hesitated to suggest the scale which has been adopted for contributions by member states of the United Nations Organization because of the large contributions made by the great powers to that organization. The Committee felt that it should not leave itself open to charges of partiality or favouritism which might result if it relied for financial assistance on a small group of powers. The Committee's impartiality and neutrality must be maintained in order for it to function properly. The President had stated that the Swiss Government was contemplating a contribution of 500,000 Swiss francs and that he hoped that the Canadian contribution would be in the neighbourhood of 25,000 Canadian dollars.

The United Kingdom Government was doubtful of the wisdom of governments making direct contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross. It was their view that the generally accepted impartiality of the International Committee might be prejudiced if its existence were known to depend on subscriptions from foreign governments. On the other hand it was necessary that the International Committee be supplied with sufficient funds to enable it to operate efficiently in peacetime so that in the event of war it might be able to perform its functions immediately. The United Kingdom Foreign Office was considering whether it might make its contribution indirectly through the British Red Cross Society. The Government contribution would be made to the British Red Cross Society who would hand it over to the International Committee along with whatever contribution it would be making on its own account.

The Canadian position was being considered by the Department of Finance and the International Committee dealing with revision of the Geneva Convention. (Restricted)