861.48/1501
The Minister in Norway (Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State
Christiania, July 15,
1921.
[Received July 29.]
No. 1869
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my cable No.
33,18 dated the 15th instant,
giving summary of a telegram received on the 13th instant by Doctor
Nansen,19 from Maxim
Gorky, [through the?] Commissariat for Foreign Affairs at Moscow, making
an appeal to the North American Nation through the Archbishop of New
York asking for bread and medicines for the Russian population, who are
suffering because of epidemics and crop failure in many provinces caused
by drought. A full copy of this telegram is sent herewith as enclosure
No. 1.
After consulting me as to the course of action to be taken Dr. Nansen
sent a reply to Maxim Gorky, a copy of which is enclosed herewith as
enclosure No. 2.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
Copy of Telegram Received by Doctor Nansen
July 13, 1921
Very urgent. July eleventh, Patriarch Tikhon addressed following
appeal to Archbishop Canterbury and Archbishop [Bishop] New York asking for bread and medicines to Russian
population suffering crop failure and epidemics: [Page 805]
‘To his Eminence Right-Reverend Bishop of New York USA. Right
Reverend Sir. Through you I appeal to North American Nation:
there’s famine in Russia. Great part of her population
doomed to hunger death. Corn of many provinces formerly
country’s granary now burned by drought. Famine breeds
epidemics. Most generous aid needed immediately. All other
considerations must be cast aside. The people are dying the
future is dying because population deserts homes lands
fields farms fleeing eastwards crying for bread. Delay
spells unprecedented calamities. And [Give?] immediately bread and medicines. Am sending
similar appeal English people through Archbishop Canterbury.
Pray may God avert his wrath. Tikhon Patriarch Moscow and
All Russia.[”]
Gorky sends following appeal:
“To all honest people. Southeast Russian corn growing steppes
smitten by crop failure caused by drought. This calamity
menaces hunger death to millions of Russia population. Think
of Russian people’s exhaustion by war and revolution which
reduced considerably its resistance to disease and its
physical endurance. Gloomy days have come for country of
Tolstoy Dostoyevsky Mendeleyev Pavlov Mussorgsky Glinka and
other world-prized men and I venture to trust that cultured
European and American people conceiving tragedy of Russian
people will immediately succor with bread and medicines. If
humanitarian ideas and feelings—faith in whose social import
was so shaken by damnable war and victors unmercifulness
towards vanquished—if the faith in the creative force of
these ideas and feelings, I say, must and can be restored,
Russia’s misfortune offers humanitarians splendid
opportunity to demonstrate vitality for humanitarianism. I
think particularly warm sympathy in succoring Russian people
must be shown by those who during ignominious war so
passionately preached fratricidal hatred thereby withering
the educational efficacy of ideas evolved by mankind in most
arduous labors and so highly [lightly?] killed by stupidity and cupidity. People
who conceive world’s agonizing pain will forgive the
involuntary bitterness of my words. I ask all honest
European and American people for prompt aid to Russian
people. Give bread and medicines.[”]
[Enclosure 2]
Copy of Telegram Sent by Doctor Nansen
[to Maxim Gorky], July 14, 1921
Have received your impressive telegram. Only people who can help
materially now are Americans who have done unique charity work
during and after war but serious obstacle will be that American
citizens are retained in Russia and in Russian prisons. Must
therefore most urgently advise that they are released at once
otherwise I fear you cannot expect much help from America. I am
doing all I can to send food at once.
