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The Geneva Conference of August 1864 as seen by the Geneva press

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2010

André Durand
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Extract

The Geneva Conference of August 1864 was held behind closed doors. A drawing published in the satirical paper the Carillon de Saint-Gervais is indicative of the reaction of journalists to this decision. It depicts three characters, symbolizing three Geneva newspapers, the Journal de Genève, La Démocratic suisse and the Carillon de Saint-Gervais, locked out of the International Congress whose door bears a sign saying “no entry”. The caption translates as follows: Tribune open to the press, courtesy of the International Congress”. This was probably the first manifestation of a certain reserve which has been apparent on occasion in relations between the humanitarian agencies and the media. Happily, times have changed. Nowadays, information and dissemination have become essential components of the policy of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and it may safely be assumed that a cartoonist illustrating an International Conference would now show the doors wide open.

Type
125th Anniversary of the Geneva Convention of 22 August 1864 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field
Information
International Review of the Red Cross (1961 - 1997) , Volume 29 , Issue 271 , August 1989 , pp. 282 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 1989

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References

1 Carillon de Saint-Gervais, drawing by Félix, 13 08 1864, No. 33. See reproduction on page 283.Google Scholar

2 The author of the article uses this term to draw a comparison between the secession of the Southern Confederation in the United States and that of the Swiss cantons of the Sonderbund in 1847.

3 The letter was signed Galiffe, giving the address 3 rue des Belles-Filles (today rue Etienne-Dumont), first floor. The author was Jean-Barthélemy-Gaïfre Galiffe, commonly called John (1818–1890), Professor of National History at the University (1861–1865). He continued to handle publication of the Notices généalogiques sur les families genevoises (Genealogical notes on Geneva families) started by his father Jacques- Augustin, or James (1778–1853). Of his numerous erudite works on history, let us quote one pamphlet which is of relevance here: La question et la polémique dano-allemandes à propos des duchés de Sleswig et de Holstein (The question of Danish-German politics relating to the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein), Geneva, J. G. Frick, 1866 Google Scholar. In 1866 Galiffe was appointed as Danish Consul and represented Denmark at the 1868 Geneva Conference.

4 Minutes of the Sub-Committee of the Society for Relief to the Wounded of 13 March 1864. Pictet, J. S., The Foundation of the Red Cross — Some Important Documents, in the International Review of the Red Cross, No. 23, 02 1963, p. 73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

5 In the days of barber-surgeons, Philippe Corsat had completed an apprenticeship as a barber's assistant with a relative in Lyon, and exercised the profession of barber for a while in Geneva. See Chuard, Jean Pierre, Philippe Corsat (1809–1874), éditeur du “Carillon de Saint-Gervais” et ses amis vaudois, taken from the Revue historique vaudoise, 1981.Google Scholar

6 Sic. As stated earlier, the International Committee delegates were Captain Van de Velde and Dr. Appia.

7 Journal of the International Working Men's Association, French-speaking Swiss Section, Geneva, 12 1865.Google Scholar

8 Babel, Antony, La Première Internationale, ses débuts et son activité à Genève de 1864 à 1870 (The First International, its early days and its activities in Geneva from 1864 to 1870), Vol. VIII of the Publications of the Faculty of Economic and Social Science of the University of Geneva, Georg & Co., Geneva, 1944, pp. 256 ff.Google Scholar

9 Journal de Genève, 20 11 1863.Google Scholar

10 Carillon de Saint-Gervais, article “Work of the Congress”, 20 08 1864, No. 34.Google Scholar

11 Issue wrongly dated, Friday 11 August.

12 Brother of William B. Bowles.

13 Villa Moynier, today the headquarters of the University Institute of European Studies.

14 Now owned by the town of Geneva.

15 Villa Fleur-d'Eau. It was in this villa that the first talks between Reagan and Gorbatchev took place on 19 November 1985.

16 Today the Museum of the History of Science. The spelling “Bartholoni” was officially restored in 1896 ( Galiffe, , Notices généalogiques, vol. IV, p. 511).Google Scholar

17 Carillon de Saint-Gervais, 20 08 1864 Google Scholar, see note 10. The text published in the Carillon actually read: “Solforino”.

18 The Sanitary Commission Bulletin, New York, Vol. I, 15 09 1864, No. 22, p. 677–678.Google Scholar

19 See Durand, André, La journée du 22 août 1864, in Bulletin de la Société Henry Dunant, No. 13, 1989.Google Scholar

20 The first version of the Protocol indeed bears the following additions, in Gustave Moynier's handwriting, in the list of reigning monarchs: His Majesty the King of the Belgians; and in the list of signatories: Auguste Visschers, Officer of the Order of Leopold, Councillor of the Conseil des Mines. In recognition of this favour, Auguste Visschers in turn made arrangements for Gustave Moynier to be awarded the Order of Leopold.

21 Journal de Genève, 24 08 1864.Google Scholar

22 With one error, the Kingdom of Saxony is included instead of the Grand Duchy of Baden.