TLS as president, one page, 7 x 9, White House letterhead, September 15, 1922. Letter to Stanley L. Cole of Chicago. In part: “I note what you say concerning relief of the refugees in Asia Minor. You can be sure that the forces of the United States will do everything possible to relieve the situation there, but, of course, means to guard carefully against being involved in a situation which we think ought to have been avoided.” Letter is archivally sleeved in acid-free Mylar. In fine condition.
This letter was written during the Great Fire of Smyrna—a conflagration started two days earlier and which destroyed much of the port city. The blaze occurred shortly after Turkish forces regained control of the city, effectively ending the Greco-Turkish War, but creating a horrific refugee situation in the region and a flood of Greeks and Armenians to Greece.
According to published reports from the time, the Turkish Army had attempted to massacre Christian Greeks and Armenians in the Smyrna, setting the city on fire in the process. Such published reports undoubtedly prompted concerned citizens such as Mr. Cole to contact the White House. In the resulting crisis, Turkish troops fired on American vessels and US Marines when they tried to help the hundreds of thousands of trapped people—events that occurred after this letter had been sent and thus leaving Harding’s words that “the forces of the United States will do everything possible to relieve the situation there” as an empty promise. In a controversial decision, Harding rejected pleas from Greek-American organizations to help in an effort “to guard carefully against being involved in a situation which we think ought to have been avoided.” Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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