 The initiative was taken by Henry P. Davison, then chairman of the American Red Cross' “War Committee”, with the support of Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States of America.Davison was assisted by the British general Sir David Henderson who became the first Director-General.This newly created federation of National Societies expanded the international mandate of the Red Cross Movement beyond the strict mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to include relief assistance in response to emergencies which were not caused by armed conflict.