868.48/184: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:09 p.m.]
464. Following from Constantinople:
October 13, 11:00 a.m. Repeat to Secretary of State as my 265 October 13, noon. Yesterday held a conference with my colleagues (Rumbold, Garroni, Pellé and Uchida) and Doctor Nansen to hear certain propositions and requests of latter. He stated that for the solution of the refugee problem in Greece it was necessary to get them located in Greece so they could become self-supporting. Therefore the men of the families from 18 to 45 years of age that the Turks had retained in Anatolia should rejoin their families in Greece to work for the support of their families. He states that it seemed certain that these women and children and old men would not be permitted to return to Anatolia, therefore the Turks should allow the men to rejoin their families in Greece. It was pointed out to Nansen that these men retained in Anatolia were practically every one Ottoman subjects and men of military age, therefore so long as war existed between Greece and Turkey, the Turks were legally justified in holding these men and utilizing them in labor battalions. … Nansen seemed certain that guaranteeing [guaranty] not to utilize these men in Greece for military purposes could be obtained from Greece. There was a discussion regarding [Page 442] the exchange of Turkish prisoners and of Turkish hostages deported from Anatolia by the Greeks for these Ottoman Greeks retained in Anatolia. The British, French and Italian High Commissioners were unanimous in their abstaining from any direct action upon Nansen’s proposal, but Nansen replied that he simply wanted to be supported and be able to state to the Turkish officials that he did have the support of the Allied and Associated High Commissioners. I suggested that so far as the exchange of prisoners was concerned this was an affair between Greece and Turkey and so far as my Government was concerned I was sure that it would not approve of our entering into any such negotiations. The three Allied Commissioners then assured Nansen of their support; and when I was asked regarding my attitude I stated that I felt my Government purely on a ground of humanity, if this was distinctly understood, would lend its support to Nansen in trying to have the Greek men retained in Asia Minor rejoin their families that have become refugees in Greece, however, it was necessary from [for] me to communicate with my Government which I would do immediately and inform them and Nansen of my Government’s decision. Uchida stated the same thing that I had. I suggested and it was accepted that this question of releasing these Greek men from Anatolia should be one of the first things taken up at the coming Peace Conference on the ground of humanity; while at the same time an exchange of prisoners and hostages might also be arranged. It was agreed by every one that these men should rejoin their families before the spring planting.
Nansen then informed the conference that Hamid Bey had told him the day before that in accordance with the agreement between Moscow and Angora all Russians in Constantinople would have to leave the city when the Angora Government comes into power in Constantinople. At the present time the League of Nations, American Relief Administration and American Red Cross plan to evacuate about 7,000 Russians, who are dependent, to Varna in Bulgaria and there establish them in a camp from which place they are to be distributed to places where they can become self-supporting. This plan was evolved when it was understood that the other Russians living here and gaining a livelihood would not be compelled to leave when the Turks reoccupied Constantinople. Under the present condition laid down by Hamid Bey twenty to thirty thousand Russians would have to be evacuated. Nansen stated that either the other countries must be made to change their policy and receive these Russians or else the attitude of Turkey toward the evacuation of these Russians should be changed. As regards the first proposition Nansen had been trying for over a year to get the countries in Europe to take these Russian refugees without success except in [Page 443] very small numbers. Servia, for instance, recently refused to have any more Russians because they have so many and the Russians are giving them trouble. It was agreed that Nansen should try to get the Turks to change their attitude by pointing out that Turkey would thus stand alone in the world as not extending hospitality to foreign races. Further was agreed, and the Allied representatives undertook to make representations to their governments, for this matter to be taken up at the peace conference. Bristol.