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FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949
whom the articles belonged, and by a complete list of the contents of
the parcel. Detailed records shall be maintained of the receipt and
despatch of all such valuables.
Central
Agency
ART. 140. — A Central Information Agency for protected
persons, in particular for internees, shall be created in a neutral
country. The International Committee of the Red Cross shall, if it
deems necessary, propose to the Powers concerned the organization
of such an Agency, which may be the same as that provided for in
Article 123 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949.
The function of the Agency shall be to collect all information of
the type set forth in Article 136 which it may obtain through official
or private channels and to transmit it as rapidly as possible to the
countries of origin or of residence of the persons concerned, except
in cases where such transmissions might be detrimental to the
persons whom the said information concerns, or to their relatives. It
shall receive from the Parties to the conflict all reasonable facilities
for effecting such transmissions.
The High Contracting Parties, and in particular those whose
nationals benefit by the services of the Central Agency, are
requested to give the said Agency the financial aid it may require.
The foregoing provisions shall in no way be interpreted as
restricting the humanitarian activities of the International
Committee of the Red Cross and of the relief Societies described in
Article 142.
Exemption
from charges
ART. 141. — The national Information Bureaux and the Central
Information Agency shall enjoy free postage for all mail, likewise the
exemptions provided for in Article 110, and further, so far as
possible, exemption from telegraphic charges or, at least, greatly
reduced rates.