861.00/7681: Telegram
The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State
576. Have just received personal appeal from Neratov, Russian delegate here, and Krivoshein, Russian Foreign Minister, for assistance for refugees now being evacuated from Crimea. They estimate about 20,000 refugees that are not part of military forces in any way. There are not facilities here to care for over a very few thousand by using everything possible. The misery and suffering of these refugees can be easily imagined. Any assistance given to these refugees would be the best kind of humane act.
I informed Russian representative that I had no funds and my Government could give none without act of Congress; also that all our naval vessels available were being sent and I would do everything I could for the sake of humanity. I have given orders that our vessels must not take on board any combatants and no acts undertaken must cause complications between the Soviet Government and our Government and our naval forces must only take action for the sake of humanity. I have transmitted Russian appeal to our Ministers in Roumania, Bulgaria, Greece and Servia requesting them to use good offices with the Governments to which they are accredited to obtain assistance for Russian refugees.
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