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tioned letter; because, in the light of all the facts known to us your action, as the American Secretary-General, was natural and proper. Yours very sincerely,

HENRY WHITE
TASKER H. BLISS

Proposal of Dr. Fridtjof Nansen for Relief in Russia under Supervision of Northern Neutrals

861.00/4020: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Commission to Negotiate Peace

WASHINGTON, March 11, 1919, 6 p.m.

1067. Following from Vice Consul Imbrie at Viborg.

"Number 5, 4th. . . . Facts following were gathered from refugees, border guards, a messenger whom I (interviewed?), Russ papers and captured Bolshevik courier.

On February 1st population of Petrograd as shown by police records had fallen to 991,000. During past thirty days deaths are estimated at 113,000 and probably half this number have left the city so that the population now approximates 800,000.

For purpose food distribution population is three classes: Class 1 consisting of Red Guard, receives seven herring per day; class 2, Bolshevik clerical employees five herring per day; remainder population receive nothing. No other supplies are distributed or available.

There is no coal Petrograd or Moscow, no kerosene, no gasoline; wood was nationalized in September and since official decree has [not?] been available private use. Estimated remaining supply which is devoted exclusively to operation munitions factory will be exhausted by middle of present month. Sewerage and water systems still functioning, though cessation expected daily.

It is estimated that within three months unless relief comes Petrograd will be depopulated.

Most schools remain closed, streets are deserted, save for soldiers and beggars who cry for bread and refuse money. Epidemic of smallpox and typhoid with famine, account for the 4,000 daily deaths and it has now become impossible to bury the bodies.

Reported that Swedish, Danish, Swiss, Dutch and English Embassies have been looted, no report on American and French. Complete gutting of Winter Palace occurred in January and all art treasures have been stolen from Hermitage.

Moscow conditions are slightly better. There, a few of the military factories are operating. What little food reaches these cities is brought in by peasants. Sugar now 120 roubles pound, horse meat 21, dog 7. Chinese soldiers have been arrested for selling human flesh.

Of the public utility the trams are operating intermittently, electric light forces for two hours. All houses converted into barracks, asylums or soup kitchens. All restaurants closed, all stores save a

Two

few apothecaries, practically without drugs, and those stores which have still cloth, this sold on card. All markets closed, but Jew and thieves markets are still operating. Few smaller theatres are running and cinemas. Churches are forbidden to celebrate mass. newspapers appear daily, two others once a week. These contain little but misstatements and new decrees. Banks and [apparent omission].

Railroad reported operating: Petrograd to Moscow, Petrograd to Vologda, Petrograd to Dwinsk, Finland to Levashevo and Okhta railroad running. Other railroads not running.

If Department wishes can send military and naval report. In general it may be said that the Bolsheviks are stronger now than six months ago, though their ammunition, especially for large field guns, is becoming scarce.

Politically, Bolsheviks are weaker because of hate engendered in peasantry and because of inter-party dissension. Breach between Trotsky, who represents terrorist policy, and Lenine, representing so-called party of evolution, is widening and as result, position of the Jew, Zinovieff, chief of Department of North, is strengthened. Though this man has support of Executive Committee his extreme terrorist measures render him much hated by all classes."

Department is impressed with question of how long the Allied Governments can properly delay some organized attempt to remedy conditions of distress such as those described in this report. Department understands British Red Cross representative now proceeding to Petrograd. It also appears that a Red Cross committee of Scandinavian and other neutral countries now has some representation at Petrograd which, however, is neither powerful nor effective.

My personal opinion is that this question should receive immediate consideration from Red Cross leaders of all countries and should be considered with a view to action by the Conference which I understand is shortly to be held at Geneva under the presidency of Mr. H. B. Davison.

I believe that time presses. We have discouraged the American Red Cross here from undertaking formal measures because it seemed inadvisable for the Red Cross of any one country to assume that close association with Bolshevik authorities which would be inevitable if only one country were involved. The situation would be quite different in the case of a powerful organization of Red Cross societies of leading countries.

In this connection telegram from Legation at Stockholm, 3654, February 22, 11 a.m.,80 states that Swedish Red Cross offers initial help in resuming relief through experienced personnel already in Petrograd and also the following supplies: 100,000 barrels herring, 2,000 tons flour, 10,000 tons wheat, which are in whole or in part subject to demands relief work in Germany, which is being under

"Not printed.

taken by Swedish Red Cross, but are also available for relief in Russia.

Swedish Red Cross suggests that initial financing be by United States or Allies, while Swedes will furnish personnel. Swedes state organization can be self-supporting because recipients of relief will be able to pay and believes Finland would offer no difficulty in the way of transportation. Moreover, navigation to Petrograd should be open in April.

I hope you will let me have your views, also what practical steps you believe, if any, can be taken now.

POLK

861.00/4142: Telegram

The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State

PARIS, March 24, 1919, 11 p.m.
[Received March 24, 10:03 p.m.]

1316. Your 1067, March 11th, 6 p.m. Commission has given careful consideration to Vice Consul Imbrie's report, but feels that the relief of Petrograd and other cities of Russia is too large an undertaking for any Red Cross organization or group of organizations. Commission doubts whether at present time the American Government should take the initiative and also if it has funds available to undertake measures on an adequate scale and feels further that any relief for Russia should be part of a definite inter-Allied program. Since Commission favors in theory and practice [any practicable] humanitarian measures for the Russian civilian population in all sections, Mr. Hoover's opinion is being sought and Commission will welcome any further suggestions which may occur to the Department.

AMERICAN] MISSION

Paris Peace Conference 861.00/435

The Director General of Relief, Supreme Economic Council
(Hoover), to President Wilson

[Extracts]

[PARIS,] March 28, 1919.

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: As the result of Bolshevik economic conceptions, the people of Russia are dying of hunger and disease at the rate of some hundreds of thousands monthly in a country that formerly supplied food to a large part of the world.

In all these lights I have the following three suggestions: 1st: We cannot even remotely recognize this murderous tyranny without stimulating actionist radicalism in every country in Europe and without transgressing on every National ideal of our own.

2d: That some Neutral of international reputation for probity and ability should be allowed to create a second Belgian Relief Commission for Russia. He should ask the Northern Neutrals who are especially interested both politically and financially in the restoration of better conditions in Russia, to give to him diplomatic, financial and transportation support; that he should open negotiations with the Allied governments on the ground of desire to enter upon the humane work of saving life, and ask the conditions upon which ships carrying food and other necessaries will be allowed to pass. He should be told that we will raise no obstructions and would even help in his humanitarian task if he gets assurances that the Bolsheviki will cease all militant action across certain defined boundaries and cease their subsidizing of disturbances abroad; under these conditions that he could raise money, ships and food, either from inside or outside Russia; that he must secure an agreement covering equitable distribution, and he might even demand that Germany help pay for this. This plan does not involve any recognition or relationship by the Allies of the Bolshevik murderers now in control any more than England recognized Germany in its deals with the Belgian Relief. It would appear to me that such a proposal would at least test out whether this is a militant force engrossed upon world domination. If such an arrangement could be accomplished it might at least give a period of rest along the frontiers of Europe and would give some hope of stabilization. Time can thus be taken to determine whether or not this whole system is a world danger, and whether the Russian people will not themselves swing back to moderation and themselves bankrupt these ideas. This plan, if successful, would save an immensity of helpless human life and would save our country from further entanglements which today threaten to pull us from our National ideals.

3d: I feel strongly the time has arrived for you again to reassert your spiritual leadership of democracy in the world as opposed to tyrannies of all kinds. Could you not take an early opportunity to analyze, as only you can, Bolshevism from its political, economic, humane and its criminal points of view, and, while yielding its aspirations, sympathetically to show its utter foolishness as a basis of economic development; show its true social ends; rap your own reactionaries for their destruction of social betterment and thereby their stimulation of Bolshevism; point, however, to the steady progress of real democracy in these roads of social betterment. I believe

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you would again align the hearts of the suffering for orderly progress against anarchy, not alone in Russia but in every Allied country. If the militant features of Bolshevism were drawn in colors with their true parallel with Prussianism as an attempt at world domination that we do not stand for it would check the fears that today haunt all men's minds.

Faithfully yours,

[File copy not signed]

Paris Peace Conference 861.5018/9

Dr. Fridtjof Nansen to President Wilson

PARIS, April 3, 1919.

MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: The present food situation in Russia, where hundreds of thousands of people are dying monthly from sheer starvation and disease, is one of the problems now uppermost in all men's minds. As it appears that no solution of this food and disease question has so far been reached in any direction, I would like to make a suggestion from a neutral point of view for the alleviation of this gigantic misery, on purely humanitarian grounds. It would appear to me possible to organize a purely humanitarian Commission for the provisioning of Russia, the foodstuffs and medical supplies to be paid for perhaps to some considerable extent by Russia itself, the justice of distribution to be guaranteed by such a Commission, the membership of the Commission to be comprised of Norwegian, Swedish, and possibly Dutch, Danish and Swiss nationalities. It does not appear that the existing authorities in Russia would refuse the intervention of such a Commission of wholly non-political order, devoted solely to the humanitarian purpose of saving life. If thus organized upon the lines of the Belgian Relief Commission, it would raise no question of political recognition or negotiations between the Allies with the existing authorities in Russia.

I recognize keenly the large political issues involved, and I would be glad to know under what conditions you would approve such an enterprise and whether such Commission could look for actual support in finance, shipping and food and medical supplies from the United States Government.

I am addressing a similar note to Messrs. Orlando, Clemenceau and Lloyd-George.

Believe me [etc.]

FRIDTJOF NANSEN

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