International > Report on the activities of the Executive Committee from January 1st to December 31st, 1935

x/ /
[Communicated to the Assembly, the Council
and the Members of the League.]
Official No.: A. 26. 1936. XII.
Geneva, August 27th, 1936.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELIEF UNION
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES
OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FROM JANUARY 1st TO DECEMBER 31st, 1935
In conformity with Article 10 of its Statute, the International Relief Union submits to
the States Members of the Union, through its Executive Committee, a report on its activities
in the past year, and communicates it to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, in
order that it may be brought to the knowledge of the Council and Assembly.
1. The Executive Committee held three sessions : one in Paris on April 26th and 27th,
and two in Geneva on December 1st and 3rd, 1935.
2. In conformity with Article 5 of the Statute, the Executive Committee came up for
re-election, and its members were re-elected. M. Etienne Delta, who had resigned, was
replaced by His Excellency Dr. Rudolf Holsti. At its session on December 3rd, the Executive
Committee again appointed its Bureau. The Committee is composed as follows :
M. Giovanni Ciraolo, Senator of the Kingdom of Italy (President) ;
The Marquis de Lillers, President of the French Red Cross (Vice-President) ;
Colonel Paul Draudt, Vice-President of the German Red Cross (Vice-President) ]
M. Albert FRANqois, Econome general of the Belgian Red Cross (Treasurer) ;
His Excellency Dr. Rudolf Holsti, Permanent Delegate of Finland to the League
of Nations ;
Mr. Algernon Maudslay, C.B.E., Chairman of the Relief Committee of the British
Red Cross ;
His Excellency M. Parra-Perez, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of Venezuela in London, Member of the Supervisory Commission of the League of
Nations.
The second General Council of the Union was held in Geneva on December 2nd, 1935,
at its headquarters, the Villa Moynier, under the presidency of His Excellency Dr. Rudolf
Holsti, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Delegate of Finland
to the League of Nations. Seventeen States were represented. Twelve international
institutions sent representatives to act in an advisory capacity. Resolutions were adopted
concerning the reconstitution of the initial fund, exemptions, facilities, and privileges, and the
scientific study of natural disasters, while suggestions were put forward for strengthening the
action of the Union (see Appendix 1).
3. On December 31st, 1935, the International Relief Union had thirty States Members
(see Appendix 2), and the Initial Fund constituted by their contributions amounted to 455,700
Swiss francs, of which 396,900 had been paid up. The revenue from the Initial Fund is used
to increase the Working Capital Fund, which covers expenses not borne by the permanent
central service, such as postage, telegraph and telephone, travelling expenses of members of
the Executive Committee, printing, etc. This Working Capital Fund was further increased
by 24,000 Italian lire, or 5,970.15 Swiss francs, the contribution of the Italian Government,
and by 14,000 leva, or SM.'OO Swiss francs, the gift of the Bulgarian Government.
4. In the course of the financial year under review, a Member, India, had one of its
regions, Baluchistan, ravaged in June 1935 by an earthquake which claimed more than
5,000 victims and caused material damage estimated at £2,200,000. The Executive