CHAPTER VIIITHE EXTERNAL MARK OF INVIOLABILITYHow to tell a Non-combatant.Those persons and objects who in war are to be treated as inviolable must be recognizable by some external mark. Such is the so-called Geneva Cross (a red cross on a white ground) introduced by international agreement.77Attention is to be attracted in the case of persons by armlets, in the case of buildings by flags, in the case of wagons and other objects by a corresponding paint mark.If the mark is to receive adequate respect it is essential:1. That it should be clearly visible and recognizable.2. That it should only be worn by such persons or attached to such objects as can lawfully claim it.As to 1. Banners and flags must be sufficiently large to be both distinguishable and recognizable at a far distance; they are to be so attached that theywill not be masked by any national flag that may be near them, otherwise unintentional violations will be unavoidable.As to 2. Abuse will result in the protective mark being no longer respected, and a further result would be to render illusory, and to endanger, the whole of the Geneva Convention. Measures must therefore be taken to prevent such abuses and to require every member of the army to draw attention to any one who wears these marks without being entitled to do so.78Regulations of international law to prevent and punish misuse of the Red Cross do not exist.79
CHAPTER VIIITHE EXTERNAL MARK OF INVIOLABILITY
How to tell a Non-combatant.
Those persons and objects who in war are to be treated as inviolable must be recognizable by some external mark. Such is the so-called Geneva Cross (a red cross on a white ground) introduced by international agreement.77
Attention is to be attracted in the case of persons by armlets, in the case of buildings by flags, in the case of wagons and other objects by a corresponding paint mark.
If the mark is to receive adequate respect it is essential:
1. That it should be clearly visible and recognizable.2. That it should only be worn by such persons or attached to such objects as can lawfully claim it.
1. That it should be clearly visible and recognizable.
2. That it should only be worn by such persons or attached to such objects as can lawfully claim it.
As to 1. Banners and flags must be sufficiently large to be both distinguishable and recognizable at a far distance; they are to be so attached that theywill not be masked by any national flag that may be near them, otherwise unintentional violations will be unavoidable.
As to 2. Abuse will result in the protective mark being no longer respected, and a further result would be to render illusory, and to endanger, the whole of the Geneva Convention. Measures must therefore be taken to prevent such abuses and to require every member of the army to draw attention to any one who wears these marks without being entitled to do so.78
Regulations of international law to prevent and punish misuse of the Red Cross do not exist.79