Administration, I beg to inform you that I concur in the view that the tender of this gold constitutes a special case in view of the fact that the gold is being expended for humanitarian purposes on behalf of the whole Russian people. This Department offers no objection, therefore, to your proposal to accept it. It is understood that the acceptance of this gold does not establish a precedent for the acceptance of other lots of Russian gold which may have been brought to this country under different circumstances. I am [etc.] CHARLES E. HUGHES 861.48/1821 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Russian Affairs, Department of State (Poole) [WASHINGTON,] January 13, 1922. The attached text of telegraphic orders addressed to Admiral Bristol at Constantinople by the Navy Department, January 12, 1922, has been furnished me by Captain W. C. Cole, of the Navy Department. It is understood that these orders are transmitted to Admiral Bristol through Admiral Niblack. The text of the orders is that agreed upon in conference between Captain Cole, Mr. Herter, of the Department of Commerce, and myself. D. C. P[OOLE] [Enclosure-Telegram] The Secretary of the Navy (Denby) to the High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) O-287 [WASHINGTON,] January 12, 1922. 1312. Services of American Relief Administration particularly in the Black Sea will be very much broadened in near future and it is desire of Navy Department that you will afford every facility including use of vessels of force under your command to representatives of Mission in accomplishment of their work. It is possible that Food Commission will desire to make use of services of naval officers in connection with port activities and to limited extent as representatives of Food Commission in accordance with precedent established in connection with activities of Commission subsequent to Armistice of November nineteen eighteen, with this difference however that activities just mentioned were situated in neutral or enemy countries covered by terms of Armistice. Department realizes that it is not possible to give definite instructions concerning this matter to you but desires that you will keep in mind the political expediency of keeping at minimum consistent with efficient relief operations the appearance of United States naval vessels in Soviet ports or contact of naval officers with Bolshevik authorities and absolute necessity to avoid any appearance of recognition in any way of Soviet Government or even representatives of local government in ports in which you may be called upon to operate with your force. Subject to above remarks the arrangement of details will be left to your discretion and it is requested that you will keep Navy Department informed of action taken. Minimum expenditure of fuel to accomplish mission is authorized. 1200. [No signature indicated] 861.48/1818a: Telegram The Secretary of State to the High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) WASHINGTON, January 16, 1922—4 p.m. 3. The Department concurs in your orders from Navy of January 12 concerning cooperation with American Relief Administration in the Black Sea. Department, with concurrence of Navy, desires to emphasize the importance of keeping at the minimum consistent with effective relief operations the appearance of naval vessels in Soviet ports and contact of naval officers with Soviet authorities. Haskell, representing American Relief Administration at Moscow, is being instructed by Mr. Hoover to inform the highest Soviet authorities that any assistance rendered by American naval vessels in the Black Sea is in the interest of expeditious handling of relief shipments only and is in no sense a gesture by the American Government. The Soviet authorities are to notify their chief Black Sea ports of the possibility of the arrival of American destroyers in the near future and to explain the circumstances under which they come. Haskell is to say that if, after such notification, the Soviet press misinterprets the purely humanitarian assistance which these vessels aim to give the relief shipments, the Navy will immediately withdraw the vessels and relief operations will be handicapped accordingly. Relief Administration is suggesting to its officials, moreover, that merchant ships be used for transporting personnel from Constantinople to Black Sea ports whenever possible, destroyers to be kept in reserve for cases of emergency. HUGHES 861.48/1816: Telegram The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Secretary of State CONSTANTINOPLE, January 17, 1922-noon. [Received January 18, 6:56 a.m.] 6. Under instructions received from Navy Department I am helping American Relief Administration work in Black Sea area with the naval forces under my command. This includes sending of destroyer to Novorossiisk and possibly to other south Russian ports, detailing of port officer in Constantinople, relaying of telegrams, et cetera. Arrangements are being made through Brown in London to meet technical expenses involved. I shall of course carefully bear in mind our policy towards Russia as communicated to me in Department's instructions. BRISTOL Executive Order No. 3623, January 24, 1922, Authorizing the Transfer of Medical Supplies to Russia By virtue of an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to authorize the President to transfer certain medical supplies for the relief of the distressed and famine-stricken people of Russia ", approved January 20th, 1922, I, Warren G. Harding, President of the United States, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said Act, hereby select, designate and appoint the American Relief Administration as the relief organization to receive from the War, Navy and Treasury Departments, and the United States Shipping Board, out of the surplus supplies of said Departments, medicines, medical, surgical and hospital supplies for the relief of the distressed and famine-stricken people of Russia, in an amount not to exceed four million dollars original cost to the United States, and as may be delivered to and accepted by such American Relief Association without cost for transportation to the United States, provided said medicines, medical, surgical, and hospital supplies are delivered to the American Relief Administration within four months from the date of the passage of said Act. I further authorize and direct the American Relief Administration, upon delivery to and acceptance by it of the medicines, medical, surgical and hospital supplies provided for in said Act, to transport to, and to distribute the same in, Russia for the purposes set out in the Act, and by such methods and means and to such places and persons as it, in its discretion, may determine. Provided, that, in making such distribution, the American Relief Administration may, in its discretion, if it believes there are other American relief organizations ministering to the relief of the suffering people of Russia that are better able to distribute such supplies in certain localities than the American Relief Administration, turn over such supplies in such amounts, to such other American relief organizations. I further direct that the War, Navy and Treasury Departments, and the United States Shipping Board, shall report to the President the amounts of medicines, medical, surgical and hospital supplies delivered by each to the American Relief Administration, and the American Relief Administration shall make report as to the disposition made of said supplies. WARREN G HARDING REFUSAL BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO INCUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RELIEF OF REFUGEES FROM SOUTH RUSSIA " 861.48/1351: Telegram The High Commissioner at Constantinople (Bristol) to the Acting Secretary of State CONSTANTINOPLE, January 14, 1921-6 p.m. [Received January 17-10.54 a.m.] It is reported here through Maklakoff 32 at Paris that French Government withdrew on January 1st financial support for Russian refugees and intends to withdraw assistance with supplies after February 1st. This attitude of the French authorities causes much apprehension here regarding possible developments and a grave situation may arise. British High Commissioner is urgently recommending to his Government that the Supreme Council consider that problem at its Paris meeting on January 19th. BRISTOL "For previous correspondence concerning relief of South Russian refugees, see Foreign Relations, 1920, vol. ш, pp. 623 ff. 82 Ambassador in France of the Russian Provisional Government. 861.48/1385 The French Ambassador (Jusserand) to the Acting Secretary of State [Translation "] WASHINGTON, January 20, 1921. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: The President of the Council and Minister for Foreign Affairs informs me that after General Wrangel's defeat, 135,000 persons fleeing before the Bolsheviks left the Crimea on board the ships which the Government of Southern Russia had at its command and came, absolutely destitute, seeking refuge at Constantinople. The French Government which if consulted would have advised against such an exodus did not feel at liberty to remain indifferent to the immense distress of these unfortunates and yielding to considerations of pure humanity has found itself alone in bearing hitherto the extremely heavy burden of feeding, maintaining and housing them, an obligation which it was in no wise compelled to assume. Finding it impossible to care for so large a number of persons at Constantinople, the French authorities endeavored to distribute them in the neighboring countries and to facilitate their return to Russia. On the one hand 6,600 of them have been sent to Bizerte on the condition that the French Government would defray their living expenses. Serbia agreed to admit 22,300 and Bulgaria, Roumania and Greece about 7,000. There remain about 100,000 at Constantinople, Tchataldja, Gallipoli and Lemnos. On the other hand a proposition has been laid before the Soviet administration by Mr. Nansen and the International Red Cross, for the repatriation of all refugees who might wish to go back to Russia under the necessary guaranties for their lives and freedom, but the Soviet administration has evaded its duties and has as yet made no answer to this proposition. France being unable to continue indefinitely the considerable sacrifices which she has made to assist the refugees from the Crimea, and which amount already to approximately 100,000,000 francs, has turned over the future care of those people to a general Russian charitable association to which belong the principal persons of note living outside of Russia, without respect to party and without any political or commercial aim. But the association does not have the 33 File translation revised. |