861.48/1314: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Acting Secretary of State

1977. Contents of your 1659, November 26, 6 p.m., communicated to Foreign Office. Following is English translation of reply dated December 2nd.

“By a note under date of November 29 last handed on December 2nd to the Chief of Political and Commercial Affairs of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the United States of America has been good enough to inform the Ministry for Foreign Affairs that the Federal Government, inspired by humanitarian sentiments, is ready to furnish all facilities in its power for the transportation and assistance of the non-combatant refugees from Crimea in Constantinople.

[Page 634]

To that end, Admiral Bristol, American High Commissioner at Constantinople, was instructed to cooperate with the British and French representatives and to use available ships of the American Navy and Shipping Board.

It was likewise understood with the American Red Cross that they would lend assistance to the refugees.

The French Government expresses to the American Embassy its gratitude for this highly humanitarian decision. It is informing thereof the High Commissioner of the Republic at Constantinople in order that the French civil, military and naval authorities at that city may coordinate their efforts with those of the American High Commissioner.

The Federal Government adds that Admiral Bristol has drawn attention to the terrible plight of the refugees and the impossibility of giving them adequate care as long as they remain at Constantinople. He recommends that measures be taken to evacuate them to points on the north African coast. The French Government thoroughly appreciates the necessity of relieving the congestion at Constantinople and of diverting the largest number possible of refugees towards neighboring countries. It has in that respect approached with the utmost urgency the Serbian, Greek, Roumanian and Bulgarian Governments which in response to its appeal have accepted likewise thousands of these unfortunates.

Efforts are being made to organize upon the spot the hospitalization of the other refugees and it is hoped notably to concentrate at Lemnos a considerable number of Russian soldiers who in fact will be disarmed and no longer considered as troops but as simple individual refugees.

On the other hand it is not possible to contemplate the transportation of Russian refugees to northern Africa. Very serious political reasons would oppose this solution. In view of the disposition of spirit of the Mussulmans there are serious objections to their coming into contact with afflicted Europeans whose morale is depressed by their lamentable situation and among whom, as certain signs show, only too well exist elements of discord which would be likely to work harmful influence over the Mussulman populations. Moreover, the conditions of food supply to northern Africa are not such as to allow a fresh influx of inhabitants. The French Government has therefore had to abandon the idea of sending refugees to that region. On the other hand, however, it is making every effort to relieve the refugees and the French military and naval authorities as well as the civilian authorities are devoting themselves as much as possible to the t#sk of alleviating their misery. The French Government has even gone so far as to assume the burden of advancing the cost of evacuation which represents a considerable sacrifice. It will therefore welcome gratefully all the efforts which, in a high humanitarian intention corresponding well to their tradition, the United States of America may put forth on their side to come to the aid of such dire misfortune.”

Copy by mail.

Upon handing the communication to Monsieur de Peretti in charge of the Foreign Office, he referred to the Department’s use [Page 635] of the word “non-combatants” and said that in the eyes of the French Government the de facto Government of Wrangel had ceased to exist, his army no longer existed and there were consequently no longer any combatants to be succored. They were all to be classed as refugees. French Government would not oppose the return of any of them if they so desired to the Crimea. His latest figures showed 135,000 refugees; 704 cases of typhus had broken out. French Government has advanced 1,000,000 francs for their relief.

Wallace