868.48/3006: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received (May 1?)—1:10 a.m.]
1021. My 1020, April 30. As of possible interest to Department following is substance of conversation which Boheman had yesterday [Page 759] with Mallet and me before German reply had been received: Pending receipt of German reply Swedish Minister at Bern took matter up directly with International Red Cross. Fortunately M. Brunei, a Swiss, head of International Red Cross Commission in Greece, happened to be in Geneva at time. Brunei whom Boheman said Swedish Minister had described as an unusually able man of finest character made long entailed [detailed?] statement to Swedish Minister regarding work of his Commission in Greece and how it operates there now. There is a High Committee of International Red Cross to direct activities of Red Cross in Greece composed of Brunei and representatives of German, Italian and Greek Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent. (It will be recalled that German reply made no mention of Turkish Red Crescent.) Under this High Committee there is an executive organ known as Committee of Action which is charged with the actual distribution of relief. This sub-committee is composed entirely of Swiss and Greeks. Brunei said that committee in Greece was extraordinarily dependent on cooperation of occupying powers forsaking [for making?] any effective distribution of relief. Principal reason for this dependence is total lack of transportation facilities except such as may be granted by occupying military power. Situation is different to that which obtained in Belgium during last war when Hoover Commission brought its own transportation and petrol.37 Brunei also said that as practical matter cooperation of German and Italian Red Cross members of High Committee had been invaluable and irreplaceable in securing a minimum of transportation from occupying military. Brunei expressed opinion that it would be impossible to organize relief in Greece under any plan, without close collaboration with occupying power. He therefore told Swedish Minister that in his opinion there should not be created any new organ for distribution of relief to Greece; that existing organization should be used with High Committee reinforced by Swedes and Sub-committee of Action, now composed of Swiss and Greeks, should have Swedish members added. Swedish Minister is reported to have told Brunei that he did not believe his plan would be acceptable to British and American Governments. He asked Brunei if he would not try to think out some system of control which would be acceptable to Allied Governments and which would not meet with objections on score of lack adequate control and supervision.
[Page 760]Brunei also had interesting observations to make that there was no shortage of edible fats in Greece; that in some districts there was actually a surplus of olive oil but that total lack of transportation and containers for edible oil made it impossible to distribute surplus. He suggested that containers for edible oils should be sent to Greece in connection with any relief scheme. Brunei also said that if his suggestions should be acceptable he not only would welcome addition of Swedes but felt that it would be essential under new plan as he would otherwise have no means of dealing with ships which brought food and asked that one of Swedes should be a shipping expert.
Boheman said that viewing matter realistically he was impressed by Brunei’s suggestions and said that he thought it would be very helpful in ironing matter out if American and British Ministers in Switzerland should make direct contact with International Red Cross—either Huber, the President, or Burckhardt. He seemed uncertain whether Brunei was still at Geneva. Boheman feels that by British and American Ministers talking with International Red Cross they can ask any questions they like and that after thorough exploration of International Red Cross suggestions they may be in a position to judge how far it may be necessary to alter Brunei’s proposal.
Department will of course realize that foregoing discussion took place before favorable nature of German reply was known. It is, however, of considerable interest as indicating a view of International Red Cross which there is no reason to believe is insincere.
- For correspondence on efforts of the United States for the relief of Belgium during World War I, see Foreign Relations, 1914, supp., pp. 809 ff.; ibid., 1915, supp., pp. 1023 ff.; ibid., 1916, supp., pp. 871 ff.; and ibid., 1917, supp. 1, pp. 628 ff.↩