During the Seinan War, he received a proposal to establish 'Hakuai sha' (later called the Japanese Red Cross Society) by Tsunetami SANO and Yuzuru OGYU, he approved it without consulting the main government, as he was moved by the spirit to rescue not only the government army, but also to help the rival, Satsuma army.
西南戦争のさなか、佐野常民や大給恒から「博愛社」（後の日本赤十字社）設立の建議を受けるが、官軍のみならず逆徒である薩軍をも救護するその精神を熾仁親王は嘉し、中央に諮る事なくこれを認可した。