William F. Smith: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3680 is designed to implement the Geneva conventions for the protection of victims of war. Our…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3680 is designed to implement the Geneva conventions for the protection of victims of war. Our colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina, Walter Jones, should be commended for introducing this bill and for his dedication to such a worthy goal. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 codified rules of conduct for military forces to which we have long adhered. In 1955 Deputy Under Secretary of State Robert Murphy testified to the Senate that-- The Geneva Conventions are another long step forward towards mitigating the severity of war on its helpless victims. They reflect enlightened practices as carried out by the United States and other civilized countries, and they represent largely what the United States would do, whether or not a party to the Conventions. Our own conduct has served to establish higher standards and we can only benefit by having them incorporated in a stronger body of wartime law. Mr. Speaker, the United States ratified the Conventions in 1955. However, Congress has never passed implementing legislation.”