852.2221/875: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)
321. Your 833, May 26, 7 p.m. In view of the pressing circumstances which you describe and the desirability that these destitute Americans should be assisted to return to this country as soon as possible, I have written to David McKelvey White,52 National Chairman of the Friends of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in New York City and have suggested that his organization take action and furnish funds to this end. I have also suggested that his organization should be in a position to obtain funds from all of those persons and organizations in this country who have assisted these men to go to Spain and who therefore have a clear responsibility to assist in their repatriation.
For your confidential information, I have acquainted Senator Pittman and Representative McReynolds with the plight of these Americans as reported by you and I have also conveyed to them a copy of my letter to White.
Copies of these letters are being sent to you by mail.53
With reference to your suggestion that an appeal might be made to the Red Cross I may say that while funds have heretofore been made available to the Department by that organization for the repatriation of destitute Americans from Spain, these funds were contributed on the understanding that they were not to be used to assist Americans who may have gone to Spain since the outbreak of the present [Page 289] conflict to serve in the armed forces of that country. The funds made available to the Department by the Red Cross have now been practically exhausted and when an additional contribution was obtained some time ago it was indicated that no further funds would be available for repatriation of Americans from Spain.