§ 44. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the fact that the United States Government has stated that from next June onwards it cannot continue to organise and defray the costs of relief for refugees from Turkey, and that the French Government, in reply to the United States Secretary of State, declared that it would provide 1,600,000 francs towards the settlement of refugees in Syria, His Majesty's Government is prepared to make a further grant towards the relief of the refugees from Turkey?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe United States Government informed the Allied Ambassadors at Washington on 3rd April that the American Red Cross Society, which is a voluntary organisation, had decided to terminate its relief work in Greece on 30th June, and they suggested an exchange of views with the British, French and Italian Governments with a view to securing co-ordinated action for the liquidation of the relief problem. The United States Government was informed in reply that His Majesty's Government welcomed this suggestion, but would await definite proposals from the United States Government before taking further action. No further com- 1905 munication from the United States Government has yet been received, and the question of making a further grant has not therefore arisen. I have no information regarding the alleged grant of 1,600,000 francs by the French Government for refugee work in Syria.
§ Mr. BUXTONIf it were a fact that the French Government made a grant would not the objection to a free grant by us be removed since Lord Balfour's promise of £50,000 would then hold good?
§ Mr. McNEILLI cannot say that. All I can say is that we have responded in a favourable sense to the overtures from the United States Government, and we are awaiting a reply from them.