861.48/1291a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Wallace)37
1659. The Department of State has informally discussed with the French and British Embassies in Washington the critical situation of the refugees from the Crimea in Constantinople. It was pointed out that this Government looked to the French and British Governments as the ones primarily interested, to arrange for the disposition of the refugees, but that the United States, from a purely humanitarian point of view, would extend such facilities as it could for the transportation and relief of the non-combatant fugitives. To that end Admiral Bristol was instructed to cooperate with the British and French representatives on the spot and to use available Naval and Shipping Board vessels. Arrangements were also made with the Red Cross to extend all possible relief to the refugees.
Bristol telegraphed November 19th emphasizing the terrible situation of these refugees and the utter impossibility of giving them [Page 633] adequate care in Constantinople. He strongly recommends that steps be taken to evacuate these unfortunate people to points on the north African coast, where because of conditions of food supply and the more temperate climate, they could be cared for at much less expense, and where many of them might find opportunities for self-supporting employment, which is utterly impossible at Constantinople. As long as they remain there, they must be dependents.
You are instructed to communicate the above to the foreign office in the country to which you are accredited and inform it that this Government desires information as to the action it intends under the circumstances.
Repeat to London as Depts 1182 for similar action.
- See last paragraph for instructions to repeat to London as no. 1182.↩