File No. 811.142/1848
The Ambassador in Austria-Hungary (
Penfield
) to the Secretary of State
No. 2237
Vienna
,
November 25, 1916
.
[Received December
26.]
Sir: Adverting to my telegram No. 1549 of
to-day’s date,2
relative to the desire of the Austro-Hungarian Government that the
activities of the relief work in Serbia, conducted by the American
Red Cross Society, should be terminated on the distribution of the
supplies now on hand, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy
and translation of note verbale No. 115343/9
from the Imperial and Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated the
22d instant, upon which my telegram was based.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Austro-Hungarian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy
No. 115343/9
Vienna
,
November 22, 1916
.
Note Verbale
The relief work in Serbia organized by the American Red Cross has
received the continued support of the Imperial and Royal
Government and of the military authorities in the expectation
that conditions would permit, with this cooperation and the help
of the donations which were expected from the United States of
America itself, the inauguration of an extensive relief movement
for the benefit of the necessitous population of the occupied
territory, and, through the receipt of the fresh supplies
expected, the further development of [Page 924] the praiseworthy action already begun.
Unfortunately, the conditions have shaped themselves in such a
way that this expectation has failed of realization; the
contributions from the United States were rendered impossible
through causes which certainly the American Red Gross endeavored
to remove, through the ever increasing rigor of the Entente
blockade regulations, and the former shipments from Roumania,
regarded solely as a temporary remedy, have likewise been
discontinued since that State has entered the war.
Under these circumstances it appears fitting that the work of the
relief committee should be interrupted until such time as
conditions would permit of its resumption.
In this regard the Military Government General of Belgrade has
invited the officials of the American Red Cross Committee now
working in Serbia to conclude their activity there with the
distribution of the supplies already on hand.
The Imperial and Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the honor
to apprise the Embassy of the United States of America of the
foregoing with the request that it, together with the thanks of
the Imperial and Royal Government for the humanitarian labors,
be brought to the cognizance of the American Red Cross and its
officials engaged in the relief work.