GREAT BRITAIN DISPUTE WITH THE BRITISH Government Over WithdraWAL OF RECOGNITION OF THE AMERICAN CONSULAR OFFICERS AT NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1923 July 30 (202) Sept. 7 (2839) Oct. 16 (286) Nov. 3 (485) To the Chargé in Great Britain (tel.) Willingness to accept British proposals provided there has been prior agreement on text of notes and their simultaneous publication and provided the British withdraw without qualification their charges against U. S. consuls. From the Chargé in Great Britain Drafts of notes to be exchanged (texts printed). To the Chargé in Great Britain (tel.) Approval of texts of notes; willingness to proceed with exchange of notes if advance assurance is given that British_will recognize appointment of Slater at Fort William and Port Arthur and Brooks at Belfast. Instructions concerning new consul at Newcastle. From the Chargé in Great Britain (tel.) 311 311 312 313 Delivery of note to Foreign Office setting forth U. S. proposals respecting Newcastle consulate. Nov. 13 (3086) From the Chargé in Great Britain 313 Dec. 13 (380) Foreign Secretary's unwillingness to have Brooks appointed to Belfast; his view that Brooks should be sent to some inland post. To the Chargé in Great Britain (tel.) A. P. despatch from Newcastle, December 13 (text printed) intimating that settlement of deadlock rests with Department. U. S. reply to press inquiry that opening of consulate is impossible until stigma against consuls is removed by appropriate British action. 314 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN, SIGNED JUNE 23, 1923, FURTHER EXTENDING THE DURATION OF THE ARBITRATION CONVENTION OF APRIL 4, 1908 1923 June 23 June 23 June 23 (523) Agreement between the United States of America and Great 315 Extending for another 5 years the arbitration convention To the British Ambassador U. S. understanding that, if Senate assents to U. S. adhesion to protocol of 1920 creating Permanent Court of International Justice, British will not be averse to considering modification of arbitration convention or to making separate agreement to provide for reference to Permanent Court of disputes mentioned in convention. From the British Ambassador Confirmation of U. S. understanding. 316 317 GREECE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS FROM OPERATIONS IN BEHALF OF GREEK REFUGEES, and Formation of the REFUGEE SETTLEMENT COMMISSION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE League of NATIONS Date and number Subject Page 1923 Feb. 19 Feb. 28 Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 16 (44) Mar. 20 (56) From the Chairman of the American Red Cross Letter from Colonel Haskell, January 29 (text printed) recommending that relief operations in Greece cease in June and that early announcement be made to give Greek Government opportunity to make necessary arrangements. Request for views. To the Chairman of the American Red Cross Concurrence in view that Red Cross emergency relief in Greece should cease; summary of refugee situation and suggestion of plan of constructive action on behalf of refugees after relief stops. Request that no publicity be given to proposed termination of Red Cross activities. From the Chairman of the American Red Cross Intention of Red Cross to withdraw from Greece on June 30; necessity for permanent plan of reconstruction in connection with exchange of populations and inability of Greece to absorb Armenian refugees. Request that United States invite other governments to cooperate in carrying out such plan; promise of Red Cross assistance. From the General Secretary, Near East Relief Report on Near East Relief for 1922. Statements giving information on (1) total relief disbursements since 1915, (2) total relief disbursements for 1922, (3) emergency relief, and (4) plans for immediate future, recommending that adult relief be turned over to responsible governments but that child welfare and orphanage work be continued with U. S. support. To the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) Instructions to report condition of refugees in Constanti- From the Chargé in Greece (tel). Departure of Haskell to present to Turkish authorities Mar. 21 (14) To the Chargé in Greece (tel.) Mar. 24 (50) Information that Haskell is without authorization to make proposals regarding devastated regions in Turkey and that trip is possibly to investigate practicability of repatriation of refugees. To the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) Report that Turkish authorities have ordered deportation to interior of 4,500 refugees now at Mersina, in case arrangements are not made for their immediate departure from that port. Instructions to report conditions at all Turkish ports. 318 319 321 323 326 327 327 328 GREECE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS FROM OPERATIONS IN BEHALF OF GREEK REFUGEES, ETC.-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1923 Mar. 28 (82) Mar. 29 (86) Mar. 29 (66) Mar. 31 Mar. 31 (17) From the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) 328 Danger of deportations at Mersina and Black Sea ports; threats of such action probably intended to urge Greeks to send ships for evacuating refugees. From the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) 329 329 Haskell's report that Turks insist upon exchange of populations according to Lausanne Agreement, and that they refuse to allow refugees in Greece to return to their former homes. To the British Ambassador Information that emergency relief work of Red Cross in Greece will terminate on June 30. Proposal of an exchange of views on the desirability of cooperation in the liquidation of the refugee problem in the Near East. (The same, mutatis mutandis, to French and Italian Ambassadors.) To the Chargé in Greece (tel.) 329 331 Authorization to transmit to Greek authorities substance of Payne to Haskell: Message for Greek authorities (text printed) announcing withdrawal of Red Cross from Greece June 30; readiness of Haskell to cooperate in arranging transfer of activities to avoid interruption of work. 332 Apr. 4 (70) From the Chargé in Greece (tel.) 332 Conclusion that future relief must consist of financial aid in, and foreign control of, settlement of Greek refugees on properties as vacated by Turks. Apr. 6 (3008) From the Ambassador in France 333 French reply to Department's note of March 31, stating inability of France to cooperate financially in further relief work. Apr. 6 (61) To the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) 333 Instructions to make representations to Turkey if report is true that heavy consumption duties have been levied on food supplies sent by Near East Relief for refugees in Constantinople. Apr. 9 (272) From the British Ambassador 334 Acceptance of U. S. proposal for exchange of views, and willingness to cooperate in working out constructive scheme for liquidating refugee problem in Near East. Apr. 9 From the Ambassador in France (tel.) 334 (182) French proposal to Great Britain and Italy to cooperate in seeking special commission appointed by Council of the League to handle Armenian problem. Inquiry whether the United States would cooperate with such a commission. 145231-vol. II-38-3 GREECE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS FROM OPERATIONS IN Apr. 27 (125) From the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) May 5 From the French Ambassador May 17 (94) May 23 May 29 (100) June 13 (182) June 15 (428) June 23 (453) French proposal to utilize certain number of refugees to relieve French farm labor shortage, if U. S. committees will defray transportation, sending 100 to 200 persons first for trial. From the Chargé in Greece (tel.) Haskell's recommendation against U. S. participation with From the Vice Chairman, Central Committee in Charge of For- From the Chargé in Greece (tel.) Report concerning League investigations as to security Greece can offer for refugee loan. Information that no assistance toward refugee relief may be expected from Italy and France, and little, if any, from England. To the Special Mission at Lausanne (tel.) British note, May 25 (text printed) inviting United States to send technical observer to meeting of League's Finance Committee to consider plan for refugee relief and loan to Greece. U. S. appointment of Dolbeare; his instructions to make statement (substance printed) setting forth need for permanent solution and Department's willingness to have any approved plan of relief carried out by representative commission of interested governments or agencies at Athens. (Instructions to repeat to Legation in Greece.) From the Special Mission at Lausanne (tel.) Notification to League's Finance Committee that Dolbeare is ready to attend meetings insofar as they relate to emergency relief. From the Special Mission at Lausanne (tel.) From Dolbeare: Report on meetings of League's Finance Committee; Ter Meulen's scheme of private company for financing refugee aid through Greek banks. 335 335 335 336 338 339 340 342 343 GREECE WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS FROM OPERATIONS IN BEHALF OF GREEK REFUGEES, ETC.-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1923 June 25 (462) June 26 (463) June 27 (38) From the Special Mission at Lausanne (tel.) From Dolbeare: Adoption of Ter Meulen's plan, with organization of representatives of Greek Government and Greek banks and two foreigners nominated by International Finance Commission and relief organizations. Council to take up plan July 2 and meetings of Finance Committee to be resumed July 2. From the Special Mission at Lausanne (tel.) 345 345 Haskell's recommendations as transmitted from Athens 346 To the Chargé in Greece Desire of Near East Relief to terminate emergency feeding of adult refugees in Black Sea area, Constantinople, and Mersina. Instructions to report progress of transfer of refugees to Greece. (Instructions to repeat to Constantinople.) To the Special Mission at Lausanne (tel.) June 30 (211) 346 For Logan: Instructions for carrying out assignment as unofficial observer at meetings of League's Finance Committee to be resumed on July 2. Question of validity of proposed financing until Greek Government is recognized. July 3 (111) From the Chargé in Greece (tel.) 348 Information that Government contemplates transfer to July 6 (315) 348 July 10 (185) July 17 (287) From the Ambassador in France (tel.) From Logan: Finance Committee's recommendation to League of plan for organization of nonprofit refugee settlement society in lieu of private land company opposed by subcommittee; approval of plan by League and transmittal to Greek Government. Finance Committee's further recommendation that a committee be formed, with Nansen as chairman, to seek means to aid Greek Government in caring for refugees pending funds from settlement society. From the High Commissioner at Constantinople (tel.) Report on condition of refugees in Constantinople and Anatolia; termination of Red Cross operations on June 30 after distribution of 6 weeks' supplies to refugees; evacuation of Greek refugees at Mersina in Greek ships; recommendation that Near East Relief aid in Pontus area and in Constantinople be withdrawn unless Greek Government adopts constructive relief policy and evacuates refugees. To the Ambassador in France (tel.) For Logan: Information concerning Haskell's recommendations; further comments and suggestions in regard to financing refugee relief. Instructions to state orally that Red Cross does not desire to be represented on Nansen Committee. (Instructions to repeat to Lausanne, Athens, and Constantinople.) 352 353 |