The Centenary of Solferino brought to light a number of historical and private documents which had for ages lain forgotten in disused files.

Numerous National Red Cross. Societies drew on this source to give a particularly authentic aspect to their reviews and publications and to the various celebrations which coincided with the commemoration of the Centenary. The International Review, either in the form of commentaries and articles or by illustrations, has also shown its readers a number of documents which seemed to it to hold some interest.

When the second World War broke out I was the humble possessor of one First Aid certificate, and had little knowledge of the Red Cross outside the London area.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition, on November 1, 1962, of the Upper Volta Red Cross Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

This Society applied for recognition in a letter dated August 20, 1962. The application was accompanied by the Upper Volta Government's Decree of July 9, 1962, recognizing the Society, together with the text of the Society's Statutes, and a report of its activities.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition, on November 1, 1962, of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

This Society applied for recognition in a letter dated September 21, 1962. The application was accompanied by the Sierra Leone Government's Decree of July 1, 1962, recognizing the Society, together with the text of the Society's Statutes, and reports of its activities.

On the basis of the different communications during the last month to the National Societies and to the general public, we are in a position to publish a chronological summary of events which will enable an understanding of the role which it was being considered to entrust to the International Committee with regard to the Cuban crisis.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has received from the Federal Political Department in Berne, the certified true copy of the instrument by which the Government of Ireland ratified the Geneva Conventions of 1949 on September 27, 1962. Such ratification will take effect from March 27, 1963.

The International Committee has offered its services to the National Red Cross Societies of the Indian Union and of the Chinese People's Republic. In a telegram sent simultaneously to New Delhi and to Peking, it declared itself prepared to exercise its humanitarian activity on behalf of the victims of the conflict, and especially of prisoners.