The earliest mention of the use of White Flags as a sign of surrendering is by ancient writers in the Eastern Han dynasty ( 25 to 220 AD ). [1]
The Roman writer, Cornelius Tacitus, in his book Histories ( 109 AD ) mentions the use of a white flag during the Second Battle of Cremona.
It is believed that the tradition of using White flags developed independently in both the East and the West.
The use of the flag for surrending is also included in the Hague Convention 1899 and 1907.