Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - The Ideals of the Red Cross
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erations, even to the necessary discontinuance of
activities, must yield.
The Red Cross must be prepared to contribute
to all fields of humanitarian activity. It must keep
an absolutely straight course without being
sidetracked. It must not only be a symbol of the love
for mankind but it also must embody a firm
determination to fight for high ideals. I have
emphasized before how important it is that the Red Cross
does not allow itself to become involved in
political disputes, and that it does not attach political
considerations to its activities. That rule must
be kept. There exist, however, dictatorial regimes
and totalitarian tendencies of such a nature that
the results of their activities must be considered
condemnable from a human standpoint, In my
opinion, its only right that the Red Cross expresses
its opinion about them clearly and distinctly, not
by starting a politically colored discussion about
these systems as such, but by condemning their
effects. The Red Cross simply cannot avoid doing
this. The only reservation in this regard is that it
sometimes can be fatal to do so in public. A
public utterance can many times endanger lives and
severely jeopardize the possibilities for relief. I
myself have been criticized because, during the last
war, as one of the leaders of the Swedish Red
Cross, I did not publicly denounce Naziism and its
methods. I am convinced, however, that if I had
done so I should have spoiled all chances for
carrying out the rescue activities which actually were
accomplished.
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