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The Augusta Fund

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2010

Abstract

The Red Cross movement has been singularly fortunate in having been supported from the start by leading personalities of the day, who gave such effective service. Outstanding amongst these who devoted themselves to this great cause was the Empress and Queen of Germany, Augusta.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 1961

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References

page 308 note 1 Translation from the original French and extracted from Henry Dunant's notebooks in manuscript which can be consulted in the “Bibliotheque publique et universitaire de Genève”.

page 309 note 1 It should be noted that this Committee, which was founded in Geneva, was the originator of the Red Cross movement and was subsequently to become the International Committee.

page 311 note 1 Bulletin international des Sociétés de secours aux militaires blessés, 10 1870.Google Scholar

page 311 note 2 The King of Prussia assumed the Imperial Crown of Germany in 1871.

page 313 note 1 This handbook was published in 1883 with the sub-title: “Handbuch der freiwilligen Krankenpflege für die Kriegs- und vorbereitende Friedenstätigkeit”.

page 314 note 1 Translation of the original French text as follows: “In paying tribute to the Red Cross, I wish to congratulate its representatives on the noble task which is entrusted to them, since the Red Cross is the symbol of mutual aid between nations. Not only does it make provision and render aid in time of war, but it also gives protection to all kinds of humanitarian action in peacetime. This charitable action, which is carried out by the women's patriotic associations, bears the imprint of a cause which is universally respected.

Allow me to place at the disposal of the Conference, through the good offices of the International Committee, a prize of five thousand francs, with the object of helping to develop the work of the Red Cross, the conditions for which will be decided upon by a special commission.”

Koblenz, , 07 20, 1884.Google Scholar

page 315 note 1 Translation from the original French text as follows: “No Frenchman can think of her without feelings of the deepest sympathy and respect. It is only necessary to recall how devotedly she cared for the French wounded during the years 1870–71. She devoted herself whole-heartedly first as Queen, then as Empress, with maternal solicitude to her subjects throughout the years of war from 1864. This heroic woman showed even higher qualities when she encountered death and showed no distinction between conquerors and the vanquished.”

page 316 note 1 Translation from the original French text.

page 317 note 1 See Bulletin international des Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge, 04 1890.Google Scholar

page 317 note 2 1. To commemorate the eminent services rendered to the Red Cross by her late Majesty, the German Empress and Queen of Prussia, an International Fund, to be called “The Augusta Fund”, has been established to be employed in the general interests of the Red Cross.

2. The Fund comprises:

a) such sums as the National Red Cross Societies may allocate to it;

b) individual subscriptions and gifts from whatever source;

c) interest on the capital so constituted.

3. The cash and securities forming the Fund shall be paid to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which shall put them on deposit in a public banking institution offering all requisite guarantees of solvency.

4. An account of the situation of the Fund shall be drawn up each year as at January 7, being the anniversary of the death of Her Majesty the Empress, and shall be published in the Bulletin international des Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge.

5. The International Conferences of Red Cross Societies, meeting every five years, in accordance with a recommendation passed at Karlsruhe in 1897, shall decide upon the allocation of the available amount or of the income, in accordance with the spirit of practical and universal charity which had inspired H.M. the Empress.

6. Should unforeseen circumstances justify the making of an earlier decision, the International Committee will meet to study this question with the delegates of the central committees of the six great military powers (Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Russia) after having given—in so far as the degree of urgency will permit—previous notice to all the central committees.

This Conference, consisting of a limited number of delegates, shall accordingly be empowered to allocate all or a portion of the fund for purposes which it considers to be the most appropriate.