861.48/1450: Telegram The Chargé in Greece (Hall) to the Secretary of State ATHENS, May 24, 1921-1 p.m. [Received May 25-12:47 a.m.] 76. Greek Government on Thursday, May 19th, stopped feeding Russian refugees in Athens and Piraeus hospitals. There are about five hundred of these people in desperate need of help. About three hundred can possibly be cured and made fit for work after two or three months more of hospital care. Other two hundred are ill tuberculosis or maimed as a result of war and will probably remain permanent charge on some organization. At the present time entire five hundred are too ill to work. Russian Minister here has funds for about two weeks more. Cannot committee in charge of Russian relief in Washington be of assistance in this desperate emergency. These refugees were landed in Greece at request of French Government who agreed to pay for their maintenance but afterwards found it impossible to do and so notified Greek Government. There are many thousands of Russian refugees around Saloniki whose condition in another month will also be serious but condition of five hundred here is most desperate.38 HALL 811.142/10275 The Assistant to the Chairman of the American Red Cross (Sloan) to the Secretary of State 39 WASHINGTON, October 3, 1921. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of September 17, 1921, (811.142/10271), in which you advise us that the Department is in receipt of a telegram from Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol, American High Commissioner at Constantinople and Chairman of the Constantinople Chapter of the American Red Cross, in which he stated that he had telegraphed us emphasizing the serious situation existing in Constantinople and recommending strongly that the work of the American Red Cross there be continued, and in which you further advise us that the Department is inclined to agree in the recommendation by Admiral Bristol and trusts that before reaching our final decision we will carefully review the situation in the light of what Admiral Bristol reports. 38 The information contained in this telegram was transmitted by the Department to the American Central Committee for Russian Relief at New York and the American Red Cross at Washington in letters dated June 1. 89 'Not printed. It gives me great pleasure to advise you that at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the American Red Cross held September 28, 1921, at which the matter of the continuance of Red Cross assistance to Russian Refugees at Constantinople was considered, a vote was passed from which the following is an extract: "That the Executive Committee authorizes the continuation of American Red Cross relief for Russian Refugees at Constantinople for a limited time in order that further opportunity may be given for the development of some form of international action looking toward the solution of this problem, the continuance of this work being approved with the understanding, first, that by continuing this work the American Red Cross is not altering its original decision that this is a problem so extensive as to require international action for its ultimate solution, and hence the American Red Cross cannot continue to meet this situation indefinitely; and second, that during this continuance of American Red Cross work an energetic effort shall be made to encourage international action looking to the assumption of the responsibility for the care of the Russian refugees upon the withdrawal of the American Red Cross." Very sincerely yours, GEO. A. SLOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA AND THE NEAR EAST RELIEF 861.48/1454 The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State No. 191 CONSTANTINOPLE May 10, 1921. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the information of the Department: 1. A copy of a letter dated Tiflis April 16th from Mr. E. A. Yarrow, Director General of the Near East Relief work in the Cau casus.40 2. A translation of an agreement between the Soviet Government of Georgia and the Near East Relief for the continuance of the latter's relief work in the Caucasus. I desire to call the careful attention of the Department to both of these enclosures. Mr. Yarrow's letter regarding conditions in the Caucasus contains the first report of a reliable observer which I have received from Tiflis or that neighborhood. I do not entirely agree with all of Mr. Yarrow's conclusions regarding the present and future relations between the Turks and the Russians in the 40 Not printed. Caucasus, but was interested to learn of the facilities which the present Government of Georgia has given him for his relief work. In the agreement signed on March 28th [29th?] at Tiflis, copy enclosed herewith, the local Bolshevik Government apparently grants the Near East Relief workers far more satisfactory terms for their work than has been previously offered by Bolshevik authorities. I have [etc.] MARK L. BRISTOL [Enclosure-Translation] Certificate from the Socialist Soviet Republic of Georgia to the Near East Relief " No. 403 TIFLIS, March 29, 1921. The People's Commissary of Foreign Affairs of the S.S.R. of Georgia appreciating the problems of the N.E.R. hereby certifies, that the Government of the Socialistic Soviet Republic of Georgia is ready to give any assistance whatever to this American Committee in its work, i.e. in organizing shelter homes, orphanages, hospitals and soup kitchens; as well as in supplying the needy population with food, medicines and clothing. Whereas the Government of the Socialistic Soviet Republic of Georgia states: 1) It guarantees to those members of the N.E.R. who are citizens of the United States free travel in and out of Georgia. 2) The American Commission has the right of distribution of its property to the population as it deems it expedient, and the right of supervision over the distributions, in case these supplies are turned over to some local organization. 3) All supplies sent to the address of the Committee for above mentioned relief purposes are free from duty and all other taxes. 4) All the property of the American Commission is beyond requisition. 5) Guarantees to the Commission the right of shipping supplies to Azerbeidjan and Armenia without duty charges. 6) Guarantees that all regulations and new laws of the Government will be communicated to the Commission through the Commission of Foreign Affairs only. The People's Commissary reserves himself the right of general supervision of the activities of the N.E.R. through the Commission of Foreign Affairs. President of the Revol. Committee People's Commissary for Foreign Affairs "For mandate by the Soviet Government of Armenia recognizing the Near East Relief, see p. 931. SALVADOR NEGOTIATIONS FOR A LOAN IN THE UNITED STATES AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BANK OF EMISSION 816.51/64: Telegram The Chargé in Salvador (Arnold) to the Secretary of State SAN SALVADOR, May 18, 1921-9 a.m. [Received 8:10 p.m.] 24. President Meléndez informs me that he is negotiating a loan of $10,000,000 through Bloom Brothers, an American firm New York, to be guaranteed by a percentage of the customhouse receipts. The lenders will appoint a controller of the customhouses of the Republic. ARNOLD 816.51/66 The Chargé in Salvador (Arnold) to the Secretary of State No. 51 SAN SALVADOR, May 18, 1921. SIR: Referring to my telegram of May 18, 9 am., No. 24, regarding the negotiating of a loan through Bloom Brothers, New York, I have the honor to report that President Melendez informed me that it was necessary that a loan be made and after full consideration the Government has come to the conclusion that it is not affecting the country's autonomy by the appointment of a foreign controller of customs. The proposed amount of the loan will be for ten millions of dollars but if that amount is not obtainable then a loan will be made for the sum that can be secured even if it be for but five million dollars. The object of such a large loan is that the finances of the country may be reorganized-all present indebtedness to be paid off and be converted into this one governmental debt. The President said that after meeting all indebtedness about one million and a half dollars would remain, which would be utilized for the immediate governmental necessities as some of the governmental officials have not been paid for six months. He also stated that [by] the appointment of an expert customs controller he expected greater returns as it would minimize the pos sibilities of dishonesty which is so difficult to prevent under the existing system, also that scientific and efficient modern methods would be introduced. The proposed loan will be guaranteed by a percentage of the customhouse receipts and the balance of revenues will be used for governmental expenses. The President further said that he realized that a loan upon these conditions could be obtained from other countries but that he desired to place it in the United States. He is engaged at present drawing up a decree towards the culmination [sic] of the negotiations, the terms of which he has telegraphed to Bloom Brothers, New York, and is awaiting their favorable reply. The President also said that he was working for the establishment of a strong bank in the Republic through the same agents and looked forward to its establishment after the culmination of the loan. I have [etc.] FRANK D. ARNOLD 816.51/67: Telegram The Chargé in Salvador (Arnold) to the Secretary of State SAN SALVADOR, June 9, 1921—12 noon. [Received June 10-9 a.m.] 25. Mr. Minor C. Keith has been requested by the President to arrange a loan to the Salvadorean Government for perhaps $10,000,000 to be guaranteed by customs receipts and control of customhouses. Mr. René Keilhauer representative of Mr. Keith in Salvador is occupied in drawing up necessary decrees for possible loan. ARNOLD 816.51/65 The Acting Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Jusserand) WASHINGTON, June 14, 1921. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge Your Excellency's note of May 20,1 advising me that the French Government has received information to the effect that the Government of Salvador contemplates floating in the United States a loan to be secured by the export duties imposed by the Government of Salvador. 'Not printed. |