Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1916, Supplement, The World War

File No. 811.142/1350

The Ambassador in Austria-Hungary (Penfield) to the Secretary of State

No. 1171

Vienna, January 13, 1916 .
[Received February 1.]

Sir: Referring to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 1013 of the 8th instant [ultimo], I have the honor to enclose herewith for your information a copy and translation of a communication from the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs relative to the offer of assistance in Serbia made by the American Red Cross.

The permission for Dr. Edward Stuart, president of the Red Cross Mission for Serbia, to return to that country was immediately telegraphed to Sofia.

Doctor Stuart has since arrived in Vienna, and has telegraphed the result of his interview with the Austro-Hungarian authorities through this Embassy and the Department.

I have [etc.]

Frederic C. Penfield

[Enclosure—Translation]

The Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy

No. 72

Vienna, January 7, 1916 .

In reply to the notes verbales of the 14th and 29th ultimo, Nos. 4218 and 4396, the Imperial and Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the honor to inform the American Embassy as follows:

In the interest of the suffering population of Serbia, the Imperial and Royal Armee-Oberkommando warmly welcomes the offer of the American Red Cross and will support the intended assistance as far as the conditions in connection with the centralization of affairs in Serbian territory now occupied will permit.

The Armee-Oberkommando remarks, in general, that the direction and superintendence of the efforts in question will be put into the hands of the Imperial and Royal Government General in Belgrade, and that therefore it would be advisable for the competent officers of the American Red Cross to procure definite information from the Government General in regard to the actual needs, and instructions relative to the organization for distribution. In this connection it would also be necessary to decide upon the officers to be sent out by the American Red Cross in agreement with the Government General, since the Imperial and Royal Military Administration must be reassured that this relief movement will not be taken advantage of by certain elements in the country itself for activity prejudicial to the quiet and safety of the occupied territory.

So far as concerns the request of the president of the Red Cross Mission for Serbia, Mr. Edward Stuart, to be permitted to return to Serbia via Sofia, there is absolutely no objection to this. Mr. Stuart may at once proceed to Belgrade, where he will receive further permission from the Government General to travel through the country.