Woodrow Wilson to Eliot Wadsworth

The American National Red Cross must now carry out the purposes of its organization under the stress of the great war in which our Nation is now involved, with the fullest recognition of its obligations under its federal charter and the Treaty of Geneva. To do this it is necessary that an immediate development and reinforcement of Red Cross organization should be effected in order to enable it to respond adequately to the great needs which will arise in our own country and those which already exist abroad.
After consideration of the situation with the active officers of the American Red Cross and with the members of its Executive Committee I, therefore, hereby create a Red Cross War Council of seven members, two of whom shall be the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee, to serve for the period of the war. The War Council thus created is to deal with especial emergencies arising from the present war crisis in this country and abroad.