767.68/558
The Secretary of State to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
My Dear Senator Lodge: I have received your letter of February 2428 in which you brought to my attention the report in the Congressional Record of February 23 (p. 4339)28a of the discussion of a Bill to admit certain refugees from Turkey, during which certain questions relating to this Government’s policy in the Near East were raised. I take pleasure in submitting herewith information which may be helpful in answering the specific questions asked:
(1) “What is the condition of the building in Smyrna formerly occupied by the American consular staff?”
The fire which devastated a large section of Smyrna destroyed the quarter of the city where the majority of the foreign consulates were located. The building occupied by Consul General Horton and his staff as the American Consulate General was among those so destroyed. This fire occurred on September 13th last.
As the Consulate building was destroyed in the general conflagration it is not possible to attribute the destruction of this particular building to the individual act of any person or persons. As far as the Department is informed the authors of the fires, apparently of incendiary origin, which brought on the Smyrna conflagration have never been apprehended, nor their identity discovered. On this point conflicting evidence has been received by the Department and the various antagonistic racial groups in Smyrna have each ascribed the origin of the fire to the other. However, the Turkish military authorities in occupation of Smyrna can scarcely avoid responsibility for their failure to maintain order in Smyrna which undoubtedly was one of the contributory causes for the extent of the disaster.
(2) “Has cruelty been inflicted on American sailors or marines; and if so, when, by whom, and to what extent?”
No American marines were present at Smyrna during the disaster. One or more American destroyers were in Smyrna harbor during and subsequent to the fire, the number varying from one to three at various times. Landing parties of American bluejackets were stationed at various points throughout the city as a safeguard for American citizens and their property, in particular to guard the rendezvous where [Page 452] Americans were assembled previous to their evacuation, and to protect the American Collegiate Institute at Smyrna, and other property of American citizens.28b The Department is not informed that any American sailors were injured during the fire. One bluejacket on guard at an American institution, the International College, near Smyrna was roughly handled by Turkish brigands, rescued by a Turkish officer and did not suffer any permanent injury.
(3) “What action has been taken by the Executive to protect American citizens from injury and death, and what action has been taken to protect the American flag from insult?”
This inquiry is in part answered by the preceding paragraph. American citizens were promptly evacuated from Smyrna on an American destroyer and an American Shipping Board vessel under the protection of a destroyer. The Department is not informed that the American flag suffered insult. Notwithstanding the extraordinary condition which prevailed in Smyrna, due to a fire of almost unprecedented violence, the termination of a military campaign which had aroused racial and nationalist feelings to the highest pitch and a general tendency to disregard the sanctity of life and property on the part of both victor and vanquished, the reports which the Department has received indicate that the American flag in Smyrna was respected and that it served as a rallying point not only for American citizens but to the oppressed and the needy. The record of American officials, of the American Navy, of American citizens and relief workers at Smyrna is one of which all its citizens can justly be proud.
The information before the Department indicates that the refugee problem which confronted Smyrna after the fire has been transferred to Greece where the refugees have now congregated, over 200,000 having been evacuated from Smyrna alone in September largely through the initiative of American naval and relief personnel.
The American Consulate General in Smyrna has never been closed and upon the burning of the old building new quarters were immediately found and the work of our officials in protecting our citizens and our interests was carried on uninterruptedly both during and subsequent to the fire.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩
- Bound vol. 64, p. 4351.↩
- Landing parties were as follows: At the American Theatre, the rendezvous where Americans were to he assembled preparatory to evacuation, a machine-gun detachment of 15 men; American Consulate General, 4 men, later increased to 6; International College at Paradise, 16 men; American Collegiate Institute, 8 men, later increased to 12; Y. W. C. A., 4 men, later increased to 12; Y. M. C. A., 4 men, later reduced to 2 men; refugee bakery, 4 men; vicinity of Griswold and Brusick factory, 4 men; vicinity of Magnifico residence, 8 men; vicinity of Lane residence (Bournabat), 4 men; vicinity of Washburn residence, 4 men. These bluejackets were under the immediate command of 4 commissioned officers detailed for shore duty.↩