861.48/1239: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5—3:28 p.m.]
1179. Have spoken with Brown of the Child Fund this morning on the question of evacuation personnel from parts of Poland occupied by Bolsheviks. He is apparently undecided on the matter owing to Hoover’s views that duty of relief workers is to remain and continue work under Soviet regime.
My own personal view, which I expressed to Brown and which I would be glad to have the Department consider is that personnel should be evacuated in advance of Bolshevik occupation. There is otherwise risk at the least of their seizure by Bolsheviks as hostages. Soviets expressly state that relief work can only be continued on condition of Soviet control and no adequate guarantees are or perhaps can be offered for resumption relief [work] or proper use of supplies. Would not seizure or injury of workers by Soviet involve political complications out of proportion to probability of continued usefulness?