868.48/142: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 26—5 p.m.]
434. Your 290 September 15, 2[5] p.m. Following note received from the Foreign Office:
“His Majesty’s Government are gratified to learn from the communication which you made to this Department on the 16th instant of the interest taken by the United States Government in the distress unhappily prevalent among the Greek refugees of Asia Minor and of the invaluable help already rendered by private American relief organizations. I have now the honor to request that you will inform the Government of the United States of the attitude of His Majesty’s Government.
In general it is the opinion of His Majesty’s Government that relief measures both for those refugees who remain in Turkey and for those who have been removed to Greece should be conducted by private organizations and they have brought the facts of the situation to the knowledge of the British Red Cross and other British relief societies of which some already have organizations in the Near East and one has issued a fresh appeal for funds. The British Red Cross has also suggested to the International Committee of the Red Cross and to the League of Red Cross Societies the desirability of international action particularly in Asia Minor where the attitude of Mustafa Kemal makes it practically impossible for British, French or Italian relief organizations to undertake any work. His Majesty’s Government recognize the supreme importance of the coordination of all efforts and consider that this coordination could most easily be obtained by the exercise of general supervision by the Associated High Commissioners at Constantinople. With this in view they welcome the instructions issued to Admiral Bristol to consult his Allied colleagues and to prepare with them a comprehensive plan of relief. Sir H. Rumbold has been instructed similarly.
His Majesty’s Government are supporting to the full the efforts which are being made by the Associated admirals and consuls at Smyrna to arrange for the embarkation of the refugees. They have intimated to the Greek Government that they are prepared at once [Page 436] to charter British cargo vessels for the removal of the refugees provided that Mustafa Kemal will consent to this.
So far as the provision of funds is concerned His Majesty’s Government have adopted the proposals of the Assembly of the League of Nations. That is to say they have agreed that 100,000 francs shall be put immediately at the disposal of Doctor Nansen and in order that more extensive measures may be adopted they have undertaken to contribute up to 50,000 pounds sterling provided that other countries each advance an equal sum.
I have, etc.”