distress. Send detailed reports from local committees for Joint Distribution Committee at earliest opportunity. LANSING File No. 891.48/65 The Secretary of the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief (Vickrey) to the Department of State NEW YORK, July 5, 1918. GENTLEMEN: Sometime ago Mirza Ali-Kuli Ali-Kuli Khan, Chargé d'Affaires of the Persian Legation, asked me as secretary of the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief to send him a letter which he could have on record concerning our commission to Persia. For the information of the Department I give you herewith carbon copy of the letter I have written in response to this request. Respectfully yours, [Enclosure] C. V. VICKREY The Secretary of the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief (Vickrey) to the Persian Chargé (Ali-Kuli Kha 2) NEW YORK, July 5, 1918. YOUR EXCELLENCY: I want to express to you our Committee's deep appreciation of the message which we received from our Department of State, and also of the letter you sent to us expressing the appreciation of your Government of services which representatives of our Committee have been privileged to render in Persia. I assure you that it will be our pleasure to continue to render any service within our power along humanitarian lines, and as an expression of good will and friendship for your people. I desire to report to you that at a recent meeting of our Committee it was voted to make this humanitarian service more effective, by offering to send at our expense additional relief workers. For this purpose we now have under appointment, if acceptable to your Government, a commission of experienced educators, financiers and philanthropists, who will be glad to render any service that may be within their power. I understand that both Doctor Judson and Doctor Cook have conferred with you concerning this commission, and have doubtless discussed with you the personnel, dates of sailing, etc. This commission as at present contemplated consists of: Dr. Harry Pratt Judson, President of the University of Chicago, as Director Wilfred M. Post, M.D., formerly in charge of the American Wilbur E. Post, M.D., member of the medical faculty of the Joseph W. Cook, M.D., formerly in charge of the American Prof. A. V. W. Jackson, of Columbia University Mrs. A. V. W. Jackson E. W. McDowell, formerly of Tabriz Roland S. Vaile, expert agriculturist from University of F. Tredwell Smith, of Yale University Livingston Bentley, Princeton University Harold R. Holmes, Cornell College, civil engineer The last nine on the above list have already sailed from the Pacific Coast and are now in Japan or China. Doctor Judson, the two Doctors Post, and possibly Mr. Maurice Wertheim, a well-known New York business man, will be prepared to sail as soon as the necessary permits and passports are received. We will be pleased to receive from you any advice which you may have with reference to service that the above commission may render in Persia. You will also be interested in knowing that our Committee is now seeking incorporation by special act of Congress, under the new name of the American Committee for Relief in the Near East. In any correspondence with your Government you may perhaps prefer to use this new name rather than our old one. Respectfully yours, [No signature indicated] File No. 891.48/75 The Consul at Tabriz (Paddock), Temporarily at Casvin, to the Secretary of State [Telegram] CASVIN, August 22, 1918, 6 p. m. My telegram of August 15, 1 p. m.1 The last reports probably about 40,000 refugees expected to arrive Hamadan; 15,000 are said to have been massacred or died en route. British organizing refuge camps, hospitals, but our assistance required immediately. With the 1 Not printed. approval of the Legation I expect to visit Hamadan to help to organize work with the American missionaries pending the arrival of the American Relief Committee, but it is believed it is not advisable to transfer my consular office already established at this most central point. American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, New York, should be advised funds needed at once, may be transmitted to treasurer, Presbyterian Mission, or to me here because there is not communication with Vanneman, treasurer, or the other members of the Persian Committee. British staff here has been informed that 5,000 Christians, including 19 Americans, remained Urumiah, therefore it is very possible Shedds were only missionaries to leave. Full details not yet received. . . . Am informed that because of food scarcity in Persia it is probable that the majority of Syrian refugees incapable of military service will be sent by the British to Mesopotamia. File No. 891.48/77 PADDOCK The Minister in Persia (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State No. 381 TEHERAN, May 6, 1918. SIR: I have the honor to report compliance with the Department's telegraphic instruction of April 22, No. 44. A copy of the telegram was wired to the Crown Prince at Tabriz and an additional copy transmitted to the Persian Foreign Office. Hereto attached is translation, in duplicate, of the reply of the Persian Foreign Minister to the above-mentioned communication. I have [etc.] JOHN L. CALDWELL [Enclosure-Translation] The Persian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Moshaver-ol-Mamalek) to the American Minister (Caldwell) No. 4259/231 Rajab 23, 1336 (May 5, 1918). EXCELLENCY: We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of April 23 last, enclosing copy of a telegram from the "Armenian and Syrian Relief Committee." In answer to it we desire to state that it has been the policy of the Persian Government for many years to treat honorably all peoples of foreign nations, especially Christians, residing in Persia. Unfortunately, as Your Excellency knows, some Turkish Christians invaded Persia during this great war and have assassinated more than 20,000 persons, besides committing many other crimes against the inhabitants. If, with the assistance of the American Government the "Armenian and Syrian Relief Committee" will stop these people from committing further crimes and cruel deeds, the Persian Government will be glad to honor and help them in every way possible. This occasion is taken to renew the honors due to you. File No. 891.48/93 (Signed) ALI GHOLI The Minister in Persia (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TEHERAN, October 2, 1918, 1 p. m. [Received October 3, 12.30 p. m.] 16. American Relief Commission en route to Persia, headed by Doctor Judson, are scattered on the Pacific at Seattle, Bombay, Kermanshah, and Harakiri. They have immense supplies of muchneeded medicine, supply of which is almost entirely exhausted in Persia. Epidemic of influenza prevails and quinine retails at $125 a pound. Commission also has stock of cotton, cotton cloth for clothing poor, Ford trucks, two motors, etc., but have been requested by British military to establish headquarters in Mesopotamia at Bakuba, between Kermanshah and Bagdad, where all indigent refugees from Urumiah region, women and others not of military age, variously reported at from 30,000 to 70,000 souls, are being maintained. Those of military age are pressed into service. In view of the foregoing, additional funds and help will be necessary to care for the poor and the refugees here and in other parts of Persia. Fifteen thousand Armenian refugees reported to have landed at Resht from Baku, but there is chance of their returning. Relief funds distributed and work carried on last winter through American missionaries and Legation staff, three of the former dying as a direct result of work. We will be unable to carry on work this winter without assistance. Doctor Cook of Commission, see your telegram No. 51, May 1, 5 p. m.,1 suddenly taken ill at Bombay, is returning to America. CALDWELL File No. 891.48/112 The Persian Minister of Foreign Affairs (Moshaver-ol-Mamalek) to the Secretary of State [Telegram-Translation] TEHERAN, undated. [Received November 21, 1918, 12.55 a. m.] YOUR EXCELLENCY: At the time when Persia greets in her Capital the American Relief Mission headed by the Honorable Professor 1Not printed. Judson, I hasten to beg Your Excellency kindly to convey to the noble nation of the United States the heartfelt thanks of the Persian Government and people for that charitable and benevolent action. I am convinced that this further mark of friendship and good will given to Persia by the United States will draw still closer the ties of good harmony existing between our two countries and will enhance the Persian people's friendship for the American nation and the growing esteem they profess for its Government, which in the days of trial always gives evidence of its true sympathy with Persia. MOSHAVER-OL-MAMALEK File No. 860d.48/27 FINNISH RELIEF 1 The Finnish Commissioner (Ignatius)2 to the Secretary of State WASHINGTON, December 4, 1917. [Received December 10.] SIR: In behalf of the Finnish Government, whose representative I am, I beg leave to direct the attention of the Department of State to certain facts relating to the food situation in Finland and to ask your cooperation in relieving the critical condition of the Finnish people. As the Government of the United States is undoubtedly aware, the conditions in Finland are appalling. Starvation and death threaten a large part of the population. It is essential that they should obtain flour from the United States. In the present condition of affairs in Russia, it is utterly impossible to obtain food supplies from that country. The sufferings already endured by the people of Finland have been heartrending. Finland does not produce enough food for its own support, but is dependent upon foreign countries for a large part of its supplies of grain. Before the war, it raised about 360,000 tons of breadstuffs and imported about 400,000 tons, of which 50,000 came from the United States, the remainder from Russia. With the war, the importations from America ceased and the disorganization of Russia has caused a cessation of imports from that country. Owing to frosts last July and drouths, the crop of 1917 was only about 200,000 tons, instead of 350,000 to 360,000, as in normal times. In May, 1917, foreseeing the inevitable shortage in Russia, the Finnish Government, through Messrs. W. R. Grace & Co., New York, and their representative in Stockholm, arranged for the purchase of 50,000 tons of wheat flour in America. This flour has See also "Finland" in Foreign Relations, 1918, Russia, vol. II, pp. 723–814. According to a telegram of Sept. 29, 1917, from the Minister in Sweden: "Finnish Senate with the approval of the Russian Government has appointed Doctor Ignatius to go to America to negotiate for the exportation 60,000 tons flour for Finland." (File No. 860d.48/40.) |