Nella Pavlovna Germanova

Member of the International Council of the Roerich Organizations named after S.N. Roerich the Republic of Belarus, Minsk

Roerich Pact as the First International Treaty on Protection of Culture: History and Modern Times

2010 is the year of 75th anniversary of the Roerich Pact – the first international treaty on protection of cultural treasures of the world, which was formulated by the outstanding Russian painter, thinker and public figure, Nikolai Roerich. His whole life was dedicated to the service for common weal and peace through culture.

The Pact is a great humanistic document, that set the basis of the Hague Convention "About the Protection of Cultural Values in Case of Armed Conflicts" dated 1954, which was also signed by Belarus.

Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich considered Culture as the evolutional link in the achievement of global peace and in the reconstruction of life of our planet through Beauty and Knowledge. He thought that "no command can stop anger and lie. But urgently, by patient reminding of the highly valued treasures of humanity, we can make these devil incarnates inadmissible as the broods of dark ignorance" (1. P. 221).

The great painter said that "culture is honouring of Light. Culture is love of man. Culture is the synthesis of higt and refined achievements. Culture is weapon of Light. Culture is rescue. Culture is engine. Culture is heart. If we collect all the definitions of Culture, we will find the synthesis of efficient Good, the hearth of enlightenment and creative Beauty" (2. P. 63).

This formula practically explains the sense of Cosmic evolution of the humanity. Beauty when conceived and realized refines the energy of man, changes his attitude to life, spiritually and morally transforms him. "Our inner inspiration to something more perfect, more beautiful wakens the hidden energies inside us, which helps us to reach to a higher level of knowledge and experience" (3. P. 62).

Nowadays Roerich’s idea about Culture as the support for human evolution is being developed by L.V. Shaposhnikova, academician, General Director of the International Centre – Museum named after Nikolai Roerich. The central place in her scientific works is occupied by the problem of culture and civilization interaction. She introduced into the scientific use the understanding of Culture as "self-organizing system of spirit" (4. P. 41).

XXI century pulls forward the priority of spiritual values. Every year more people realize the great significance of the Roerich’s idea about the role of Culture in the development of the world, but it is impossible to realize the evolutional meaning of the Roerich Pact without knowing the basis of the philosophical Teaching of Living Ethics about cosmic evolution of the mankind. Cultural values are the magnets, which connect us with the worlds of higher substance, Superior Worlds, which obtain mostly refined energies (5. P. 229). True Beauty connects man with the Higher World and forces him to create hand-made beauty.

The idea of culture protection was living in the heart of Roerich even in 1903-1904 years, when he alone with his wife Elena performed a unique expedition or, as the painter called it himself, "pilgrimage" over antiquity. The purpose of this trip was to put down to the canvas the dying or ruinous monuments of ancient architecture. At that time he also visited Grodno city and there he saw the unique monument of ancient Belarusian architecture of XII century – Kolozhskaya Church. Later Nikolai Roerich with a great admiration was writing about its magnificence. "If Kolozhskaya Church is destined to be supported, how shall it be done?" (6. P. 25).

In 1903-1904 Roerichs visited more than 40 Russian towns. As a result a huge cultural material was collected. At that time Roerich started writing numerous articles for culture protection. "That was the moment when the thought about the need of national relics protection was formed", wrote Roerich (6. P. 61). This idea was proposed to the Russian Association of architectures. But then the First World War began and hindered the realization of these plans.

The world faced cruel destruction of the cultural monuments during this war. German armed forces barbarically destroyed the library of Luven University, when on August 25th, 1914, 230 000 books were burned. At the same time ancient Iprsky Cathedral and Reim Cathedral were destroyed.

Roerich created "The enemy of mankind" poster, which was spread among the armed forces. The painter is addressing the high command of Russian army, the governments of USA and France with a proposal to conclude an international agreement on cultural treasures protection during the armed conflicts, but his idea was not supported duly.

In 1920-1930s Roerich left Russia, but the destiny of historical monuments in the USSR was still in his mind. He was protesting against pogroms of the churches in the Soviet Union. "The articles are being printed about Simonov cloister and about the destruction of Bor Saviour Temple. The article "Protection" in the Far-Eastern and Russian-American mass media is praying for Uspenskiy Cathedral" (6. P. 62).

In 1929 Roerich proposed an idea of the international Pact of Cultural Values Protection, which was prepared by the international lawyers from France. Roerich foresaw the inevitability of a new war and wanted to protect the monuments of Culture from destruction. The project of the Pact was forwarded to the Committee of Museums under the League of Nations and to the cultural establishments of many countries. Many outstanding actors of science and culture supported the undertaking of a prominent painter. Among them there were Rabindranat Tagore, Albert Einstein, Herbert Wales and others. In 1929 Roerich was nominated for the Nobel Peace Award.

For the identification of the cultural objects special Banner was foreseen by Roerich. He wrote: "This plan foresees a special flag, which will be respected as an international neutral territory. This banner is to be raised over all the museums, cathedrals, libraries, universities and other cultural centers" (1. P. 34). In "The Banner of Peace" article he gave an additional information about the symbol of the Banner of Peace (white background with three amaranthus spheres in the circle). He explained the Banner as an ancient triune symbol as the synthesis of art, science and religion in the general circle of Culture or as the unity of past, present and future in the Eternity circle. He called it as the Banner of Peace, the Flag of Culture, the Banner of protection. Its major idea was the immortality of spirit.

In 1930 the permanent Committees in New York and Paris were established. In 1931 in Bruges (Belgium) the Union of the Roerich Pact was established under the head of the member of Royal Belgium Archeological Commission, Kamill Tulpinka. Nicholas Roerich was chosen as the Honorary Chairman. In Bruges two first international conferences were held with the participation of the representatives of the governments and delegates from social and cultural organizations. Roerich was not able to participate in them, but his contribution to their organization was very huge. Roerich was in correspondence with well-known public figures from Europe and America, like K. Tulpinka, baron M.A. Taube – professor of the International Institute of Law and chairman of the Roerich Pact Committeein Paris, Georgiy Shklyaver – an international lawyer, one of the Pact authors.

In September 1931 in Bruges, a well known city for its cultural monuments, the first international Roerich Pact conference was held. The representatives of more than 20 states and numerous social, scientific and cultural organizations participated in it. In his welcoming words Roerich proposed an idea of the Day of Culture and League of Culture Protection. "We will hear about the international Day of Culture, when one day in every school and educational societies the perception of national and world cultural treasures will be held simultaneously. We will discuss which monuments of Culture will be protected by the Banner of Peace" (1. P. 73).

During the Conference the consecration of Banner of Peace was held in the ancient Chapel of saint Blood. On December 27th, 1931, in different Orthodox and other Christian Churches of America and other countries special church services were dedicated to the Pact and the Banner of Peace. Those services were based on the Roerich′s words: "When we raise everywhere the Banner of Peace, we destroy the physical field of war. Let us also set the International Day of Culture, when in all the temples, in all the schools and educational establishments the true treasures of humanity, the creating heroic enthusiasm and the beautyfying of life will be remembered. That is why we should not only protect our cultural heritage that expressrs the highest achievements of humanity, but also we should evaluate these treasures with the thought that every touch of them will ennoble the human spirit" (1. P. 221).

In February 1932 Roerich sent a photo of his painting, dedicated to the meaning of the Banner of Peace, to Taube. This painting was named as "Pact of Culture". At the same time the painter wrote to him about the painting "Madonna Oriflamma" (1932) or the Saint Empress of the Banner (1. P. 358). Between the two conferences two Roerich′s books were published: "Power of Light" and "Red Cross of Culture". On the eve of the second Conference on the Pact in Bruges the photo exhibition of the famous monuments of architecture from 22 countries was open, 18 Roerich′s paintings were also presented. The exhibition began with "Madonna Oriflamma" painting.

In August 7th, 1932, the second International Conference on the Roerich Pact was open with a decision to address all the states to recognize the Roerich Pact as the international document, as well as to establish the Museum of Nicholas Roerich in Bruges. There was also an idea to establish the Federation of world press, united by the principles of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace (1. P. 97). In his welcoming words "Welcome to the second Conference of the International Union of the Pact on art and knowledge protection" Roerich paid much attention to the parallels of the Pact with the creation of the Red Cross. He also called the participants of the Conference to display the determination and aspiration in pushing forward the ideas of the Pact of Culture Protection to the life of the people.

The third International Conference, which was held in November 1933 in Washington, became a significant step in the Roerich Pact ideas spreading. Despite the representatives of the American states, the representatives of many European countries also participated in this Conference. Roerich didn′t participate in this event, but was selected as the Honorable Chairman. In his address to the participants he said: "First of all we should agree that like the Red Cross, the Banner of Peace extensively call the human consciousness to protect those things, that do not belong any more just to one nation, but are the pride of all the mankind" (1. P. 110-111).

Museum of Roerich in New York and Mr. Henry Wales, Minister of agriculture, personally impressed by the art of Roerich, contributed much to the organization of the conference. During the Conference the Permanent Committee of the Pact, headed by Roerich, was selected. It should also be mentioned that many countries, who participated in the previous Conferences, were not able come to Washington, because of pre-war tensions in Europe. The Resolution proposed for the Administration of the USA and other countries to officially recognize Roerich′s Pact (7. P. 201).

The International treaty "On protection of art and scientific establishments and historical monuments (Roerich′s Pact)" was signed on April 15th, 1935, in the White House by the representatives of 21 American republics in the presence of the President of the USA. Mr. Franklin Roosevelt. This document became the first international law act, specially dedicated to the protection of cultural values, the only agreement in this sphere, accepted by the part of international community before the Second World War. The President Franklin Roosevelt in his speech on the signing ceremony said: "Proposing this Pact for signing to the people of the world, we forward ourselves to the usage of the most important principles of the modern civilization protection. This treaty has a much deeper spiritual meaning, than it is written on the paper" (1. P. 192).

Roerich considered that the Pact imposed the obligations for cultural values protection not only on governmental bodies, but on the community: "we are constantly repeating that despite the governmental recognition, the active participation of the community is also required. Cultural values embellish and ennoble the whole life of young and old. That is why active care should be taken by everyone" (1. P. 255).

The universal character of Roerich′s Pact should be especially underlined, because it contains general principal articles on cultural values protection, as well as because it could have been realized by concluding either international or regional treaties. Under the Treaty the Banner of Peace was to be raised on cultural establishments and missions, what would declare them as neutral territories in the case of military conflicts.

In 1930s the situation in Europe was quite intense. But the ideas of Roerich’s Pact gained a foothold in Europe. In 1937 the first Congress of Baltic Roerich’s societies was held, which decided to create the committees of Roerich’s Pact in Baltic States. The Congress of international researches was held in Paris, where the decision to join the Roerich Pact was taken (1. P. 27).

During the Second World War the further promotion of the Roerich Pact was stopped. But on December 6th, 1945, the Pact Committee in New York came back to work. In the end of 1940s Roerich’s ideas were supported in India. Roerich presented to the governmental bodies the text of the Pact and the official documents on it.

The Pact is still topical today, and, as L.V. Shaposhnikova marked, "this is not far past, this is our present" (8. P. 1).

The International Centre-Museum named after N.K. Roerich in Moscow pays much attention to the protection of Culture from destruction and ignorance. The social and scientific conferences "We for Protecting Culture" (1995) and "70 years of the Roerich Pact" (2005) mightily sounded about the necessity of Roerich’s ideas on Culture protection realization as the major factor of mankind evolution (9. P. 47). In 1998 the Banner of Peace was raised over the International Centre – Museum named after N.K. Roerich. In the Hall of the Museum the unique documents and photoes about the promotion of the Roerich Pact in the world are placed (10. P. 340, 342).

The Department of International Social Organization "International Roerich Centre" is actively working for the popularization of the Roerich Pact ideas and the Banner of Peace in Belarus. For example, on April 26th, 2005, the round table, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Roerich′s Pact, was organized by the House of Friendship with the foreign countries. Among the organizers were Belarusian Department of the International Social Organization "International Roerich Centre", "Belarus - India" friendship society, Embassy of the Republic of India to the Republic of Belarus. The round table was also visited by the representatives of National Commission on UNESCO of the Ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

In November 2005 the exhibition, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Roerich Pact, was open in the Oval Hall foyer of the Government House, organized by the International Roerichs Centre. This exhibition was firstly held in the State Duma of Russian Federation. The copies of photo documents and materials from the funds of the International Roerichs Centre were presented there. The exhibition was quite popular among the delegates and the staff of the Government House.

In 2010 the world community celebrated the jubilee of the Roerich Pact. On April 6th – 12th the UN held the International Conference, dedicated to the protection of cultural values on our planet, in European headquarters in Vienna. On April 7th in the frames of the Conference the solemn opening of the exhibition, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Roerich Pact, organized by the International Centre-Museum named after N.K. Roerich, was held. At the same time similar exhibitions were held in the Southern America, in Russian federation and in the Ukraine (11). In Belarus the exhibition "75 years of Roerich Pact" was held in school No. 7 in the town of Borisov and generated a sincere interest among the pupils and teachers of the town. The exhibition were alsou further held in Minsk, Smorgon, Zhodino and other cities of Belarus.

The First Vice-President of the International Centre-Museum named after N.K. Roerich, Mrs. L.V. Shaposhnikova gave a high estimate of the evolutional activity of N.K. Roerich at her meeting with journalists, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Roerich Pact: "One of the major Roerich′s merits is in the fact that on the eve of the Second World War, foreseeing the scale of the coming events, he called the world community for concrete actions for the sake of Culture. He consolidated the progressive community, became the ideologist and the creator of the real legal document on the protection of cultural heritage, which was supported and acknowledged in the world" (12).

Literature:

1. Знамя Мира: Сб. – 2-е изд., доп. и перераб. – М.: Междунар. Центр Рерихов, 2005. (Большая рериховская библиотека).

2. Рерих Николай. Твердыня Пламенная. – Рига: Виеда, 1991.

3. Рерих. С.Н. Стремиться к Прекрасному. М.: Международный Центр Рерихов, 1993.

4. Шапошникова Л.В. Актуальность Пакта Рериха в современном мире // 70 лет Пакту Рериха: Материалы Междунар. Научно-общественной конференции, 2005.

5. Чирятьев М.Н. Эволюционное значение Пакта Рериха // 70 лет Пакту Рериха: Материалы Междунар. Научно-общественной конференции, 2005.

6. Рерих. Н.К. Берегите старину. М: Международный Центр Рерихов, 1993.

7. Лавренова О.А. Конференции Пакта Рериха в Брюгге и Вашингтоне1931-1933гг. // 70лет Пакту Рериха: Материалы Междунар. Научно-общественной конференции, 2005.

8. Из выступления Л.В. Шапошниковой на открытии выставки «70 лет Пакту Рериха» в Государственной думе РФ // «Содружество», № 17, март-июнь, 2005.

9. Тернистый путь Красоты: междунар. научно-обществ. конф. (Минск, сентябрь 2006 г.). – Минск: ОАО «Полиграфкомбинат им. Я. Коласа», 2007.

10. Музей имени Н.К. Рериха: Путеводитель. - Международный Центр Рерихов, Мастер-Банк, 2006.

11. Юбилей Пакта Рериха в странах Европы. Новости культуры. http://www.museum.ru/N39590

12. 23 апреля 2010. В МЦР прошла встреча с журналистами, посвященная теме 75-летия принятия Пакта Рериха. http://www.isr.su

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• The Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace as a Remarkable Phenomenon of the World Culture
Reports and Speeches at the International Social and Scientific Conference.
Delhi – Kullu – Shimla – Kalimpong October 22– November 5 2010