868.51 Refugee Settlement Commission/134
The Department of State to the British Embassy52
Aide-Mémoire
The Department of State received from the British Embassy under date of July 30, 1923, a note communicating the result of the efforts of a special committee of the League of Nations to devise a constructive scheme for the relief of refugees in Greece. The plan proposed would appear to comprise the following features:
- (1)
- A loan of three to six million pounds sterling, at least one million of which would be underwritten by Greek bankers;
- (2)
- A contribution from the Greek Government of not less than 500,000 hectares of land;
- (3)
- A Refugee Settlement Society, whose officers would include one representative of the League of Nations, one representative of relief agencies, two representatives of the Greek Government, and an American chairman with a casting vote;
- (4)
- A temporary relief committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Nansen, comprising one representative of the Greek Government, one representative of European relief agencies, and one representative of American relief agencies.
In acquainting the Department with the above proposals, the British Embassy expressed the hope that American relief societies would be disposed to continue the assistance which they have already rendered, by cooperating in the organization and in the support of the two committees.
In view of the serious and long continued drain on its resources and of the fact that its relief activities properly should be limited to meeting immediate emergencies, the American Red Cross has indicated anew that it is not in a position to assume direct responsibility for future work among refugees in Greece. It is further considered that in so far as may be practicable the responsibility for future relief should be in the hands of the Greek authorities themselves, with such supplementary assistance as outside agencies may be in a position to render.
The American Red Cross, however, upon assurances that a substantial portion of the aid supplementary to the Greek effort is to be forthcoming from European sources, will be disposed to cooperate by making an additional grant. But this grant would be available for a strictly limited period only, and in case it should be clearly demonstrated that the need has not been met. In view of recent urgent calls in other parts of the world and of the fact that all its personnel have left Greece, it would be difficult for the Red Cross [Page 374] at this time to send a representative as a member of the temporary relief committee.
With reference to the Refugee Settlement Society the American Red Cross has indicated to the Department that the scope of the operations contemplated by that body appear to fall outside the emergency activities of the Red Cross.
As was already indicated in the Department’s communication of March 31, the Near East Relief contemplates continuing its work for the orphans now under its charge in the Near East, of whom a large percentage are in Greece. In view of this commitment the Near East Relief is not in a position to assume a further obligation for adult refugee work although in its orphan work in Greece this organization will desire to cooperate with Greek and other organizations which may be engaged in other phases of the relief task.
With reference to the concluding paragraph of the British Embassy’s communication it may be added that the Department has not failed to bring to the attention of the American Red Cross and the Near East Relief the considerations advanced in this communication. These organizations will undoubtedly be able to indicate directly to the responsible European and Greek agencies engaged in refugee relief work in Greece any further information with regard to their position in the matter which those agencies may desire.
- A similar aide-mémoire was sent to the French Embassy.↩