852.48/276: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Bucknell)
119. Your 273, November 4, 7 p.m. Norman Davis was informed of contents of your telegram and has now written following letter to the Department explaining position of American Red Cross, which is transmitted to you for your guidance:
“While the report of the League of Nations Committee confirms our previous information as to the magnitude of the problem, this is the [Page 378] first report of an authoritative committee which has expressed itself so definitely on how the situation could best be met. Since the need is greater than can possibly or probably be met from private sources, I hope that the League will act upon the recommendations of their Committee. I do not see how the League can well drop the matter and not attempt to do something further, either such as that suggested by the Spanish Government or through an appeal among the members of the League for funds.
“I do not know just what Mr. Pickett of the American Friends Service Committee cabled to the Secretariat of the League but if it is what our Consul was given to understand, it did not convey my views or that of the American Red Cross. Mr. Pickett did telephone me that the League Committee was of the opinion that a Food Dictator should be appointed and that he should be an American, and that the Spanish Government was willing to do so with the assurance that the relief would be forthcoming.
“He also wished to know what would be the attitude of the Red Cross. I told him that we were doing all we could and could not undertake to do anything more that would involve any further outlay of money.
“As to the appointment of a Food Dictator I told him I did not see how that would work, because a dictator appointed by one side could not act on the other side. Pickett told me subsequently that in thinking this over he agreed. I also told him that the Red Cross would not be opposed to any plan that might be helpful in Spain even to the appointment of a Relief Commissioner by the League, provided, of course, such action would contribute to the solution of the problem. In such an appointment the Red Cross would have no responsibility and therefore would hardly be in a position to advise any one as to its propriety. As far as its own work is concerned, the American Red Cross prefers to carry on its activities in line with the traditional neutrality of the Red Cross which would mean the impartial distribution in Spain of relief according to need and not according to political consideration.”
You may make discreet informal use of the foregoing information in the event that any misconception should persist at Geneva as to the position of the American Red Cross with respect to relief work in Spain.