On 16 November 1972, an agreement on compensation for the Polish victims of pseudo-medical experiments carried out in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War was signed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the Polish People's Republic. In accordance with this agreement, which marks the end of the arrangement under which the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has paid more than DM 40 million to 1,357 Polish victims through the ICRC since 1961, the Federal Republic of Germany will pay an additional DM 100 million to the Polish Government.

ICRC delegates in Israel and the Arab countries have, in recent weeks, made several visits to prisoners of war. As usual, they talked with them without witnesses. In accordance with the established practice, reports are sent to the detaining authorities and to the prisoners' own governments.

At its plenary meeting on 14 December 1972, the International Committee of the Red Cross took note with keen regret of the resignation of Mr. Jacques Freymond, a member of the ICRC for many years.

During the last seven years, the ICRC has been actively working for the victims of the conflict in Indochina at two different levels: protection and assistance. Already in 1965, it had for these purposes opened a permanent delegation in Saigon, and later in both Phnom-Penh and Vientiane.