767.68119 T&M 3/6: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received December 30—4:05 a.m.]
165. The following statement was made today by the American representative at the meeting of the subcommission on minorities:
“The American delegation desires to call attention to the fact that amnesty limited to populations now within Turkey would make no provision for the right of deportees or refugees to return safely to their former homes and under proper regulations have their property restored. It appears that common humanitarian principles will require that provision be made for Armenian and other refugees originally subjects of Turkey who have been deported or have fled for safety. It is clear to the American delegation that hundreds of thousands of refugees may desire to return to their homes under proper conditions of amnesty and that injustice will be done if these living persons or their heirs are deprived of their property. We believe that there will be no approval in the public opinion of the world of the omission from this peace of some declaration by Turkey, preferably a voluntary declaration, which will do justice to those who now suffer deprivation of home and fortunes.”