It is a well known fact that the ICRC has embarked upon a new stage in the development of international humanitarian law, in accordance with the formal instructions received from the XXIst International Conference of the Red Cross, and for which purpose it convened preparatory meetings of experts. Following the Conference of Red Cross Experts at The Hague, a Conference of Government Experts was held in Geneva in 1971. The International Review gave a detailed account of the main subjects dealt with by the conference; at the time the ICRC published the report summing up the Conference proceedings.

Between 26 November and 17 December 1972, an ICRC delegate saw almost 1,800 persons who, for political reasons, were held in eleven detention centres, namely: Machava, Ponta Mahone, Nampula, Porto Amelia, Ibo, Vila Cabral, Tete No. I, Tete No. II, Beira, Quelimane and Nicoadala. In some of these places he distributed comforts and in all he was able to talk in private with the detainees of his choice.

During his visit to Switzerland, the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abba Eban, went on 29 January 1973 to the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva.

small number of government experts from twenty countries gathered in Geneva at the International Committee of the Red Cross for meetings from 15 to 19 January 1973. The purpose was to lend assistance to the ICRC in deciding upon appropriate texts from among a number of different proposals submitted at the second session of the Conference of Government Experts in May and June 1972, relating to certain important points concerning the Draft Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions.

To cover its operational expenditure, the International Committee of the Red Cross receives regular contributions from the Governments which signed the Geneva Conventions and from National Red Cross Societies, besides which there are donations and legacies. It also has the income yielded by the management of its funds.

During a mission to the Middle East, Miss Francoise Bory, ICRC press attache, went to the occupied territory of Gaza-Sinai. Here she describes an ICRC action about which hardly anything is known: that of opening the road to Mecca for pilgrims.