[D istrib u te d to t h e C ouncil _

and th e M em b ers of th e L eague.] C. 112. M. 53. i 925 - H .

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

G eneva, M arch 4 t h , 1925.

GREEK REFUGEES

Fifth Quarterly Report on the Operations of the Refugees

Settlement Commission.

A th e n s, F e b r u a r y 25 th , 1925.

T he p r e s e n t r e p o r t includes, in a d d itio n to th e d a ta g iv en in th e p re ce d in g re p o rts, p a r tic u la rs

for th e m o n th s of N o v e m b e r a n d D e ce m b er, a n d th e re fo re closes th e y e a r 1924.

F in a n c ia l P o s it io n .

The L o a n for the Settlem ent of Refugees.

In A rticle IV (old te x t) of th e G e n e v a P ro to c o l of S e p te m b e r 29 th , 1923, i t w as la id do w n t h a t :
" T h e H ellen ic G o v e rn m e n t w ill as soon as possible ra ise a lo an or lo a n s to a n a m o u n t
n o t falling below th e e q u iv a le n t of th r e e m illion p o u n d s sterlin g , n o r exceed ing t h e
e q u iv a le n t of six m illion p o u n d s ste rlin g , a n d will a rra n g e fo r th e su b sc rip tio n b y G reek
b a n k s o r financial g ro u p s of n o t less t h a n th e e q u iv a le n t of one m illion p o u n d s ste rlin g
of such lo a n or loans. T he issu in g ho u ses s h a ll place th e w hole p ro ce e d s of th e lo a n o r
loans d ire c tly u n d e r th e d isp o sa l of t h e R efu g e e S e ttle m e n t C om m ission fo r t h e p u rp o ses
specified in its O rganic S ta tu te s , a n d fo r t h e re p a y m e n t, if n ece ssa ry , of a n y a d v a n c e s .
As a t th e tim e c irc u m s ta n c e s w ere n o t fa v o u ra b le fo r th e issue of th e lo a n , t h e C o m m ission
h a d to e x ist o n a d v a n c e s, as s ta te d below .
W ith th e reso u rce s p la c ed a t its d isp o sa l, th e C om m ission w as able to e sta b lish p a r t ol th e
a g ric u ltu ra l a n d u r b a n refugees in a r o u g h -a n d - re a d y m a n n e r. W e u se th is e x p re ssio n ad v ise d ly ,
because an a g r ic u ltu r a l fa m ily is o n ly r e a lly established w h en it h a s re c eiv e d :
Sufficient la n d (su p p lie d fro m th e 500,000 h e c ta re s to be m a d e o v e r b y th e G o v e r n
m e n t) ;
A fa rm h o u s e ;
L iv e -s to c k ;
A g r ic u ltu ra l im p le m e n ts ;
F ir s t fo o d su p p lie s ;
Seed.
O nly in r a r e cases h a s i t bee n po ssib le t o sa tisfy all th e se r e q u ire m e n ts to th e p ro p e r e x te n t.
Som etim es, h o w ev er, su p p lie s h a v e h a d to b e fu rn ish e d tw ice o v er, as h a p p e n e d in M aced onia in
the case of w h e a t for seed a n d fo r food, as a r e s u lt of th e fa ilu re of th e 1924 crop.
S im ilarly, t h e u r b a n refugees, w h o m t h e C om m ission w ere a b le to p ro v id e w ith little m o re
th a n a roof, co u ld o n ly b e r e g a rd e d as e sta b lis h e d in a r o u g h -a n d -r e a d y m an n er.
If a ll le g itim a te needs h a d b e e n ta k e n in to ac co u n t, a t le a st 20,000,000 ste rlin g w ou ld h a v e
been re q u ire d to e sta b lish th e refugees p ro p e rly , an d , even if t h a t s u m h a d be en av ailab le, we shou ld
e stim a tin g th e p o p u la tio n to b e e s ta b lis h e d a t 1,200,000 o n ly h a v e h a d 16 p e r h e a d a t o u r
disposal.
W e h a d to c o n te n t o urselves w ith w h a t w a s possible, and, a fte r m u c h discussion, th e G o v e rn
m ent a n d th e C om m ission d e cid e d u p o n th e figu re of 10,000,000 ste rlin g as th e s u m to be r e q u e s te d
from th e L e a g u e of N a tio n s for t h e R efug ee L o an .
The n e g o tia tio n s w ere b o u n d to a ssu m e a d o u b le a sp e c t because, alo ngside t h e n e g o tia tio n s
for a lo a n w hich in v o lv e d c e r ta in c h a n g e s in t h e G eneva P ro to c o l, th e G reek G o v e rn m e n t, w ith th e
C om m issions fu ll a p p ro v a l, r e q u e s te d t h a t c e rta in m o d ific a tio n s sh o u ld b e m a d e in t h e P ro to c o l
in resp ect of o th e r p o in ts n o t c o n n e c te d w ith th e loan.
M. T so u d e ro s, t h e G reek M in ister of F in a n c e , Mr. M o rg e n th a u , C h a irm a n , a n d Mr. C am pbell,
V ice-C hairm an of th e C om m ission, p ro c e e d e d to G enev a in A u g u st a n d S e p te m b e r la s t to a d v o c a te
the p ro p o sed lo a n before th e F in a n c ia l C o m m itte e a n d t h e n before th e Council of th e L e a g u e of
N ations itself. T h e excellence of th e c a u se a n d of t h e g u a r a n te e s offered in d u c e d th e F in a n c ia l
C om m ittee, a n d s u b s e q u e n tly t h e C ouncil a n d th e A sse m b ly of th e L eague, to su p p o rt th e loan, a
fact w h ich h a s e a rn e d for th e m t h e g r a t i t u d e of th e G reek n a tio n .

s.d. N. 950 (F.) 1050 (A.) 3 /2 5 . Imp. Kundig.

 T h e new A rtic le IV of th e G en e v a P ro to c o l th e re fo re now re a d s as follows:
" T h e H ellenic G o v e rn m e n t will, as soon as possible, raise a lo a n o r lo an s to a to ta l
n o t exceed ing te n m illio n s sterlin g , a n d w ill a rra n g e fo r th e su b sc rip tio n b y G reek b a n k s
or fin a n c ia l g ro u p s of a blo c k e q u iv a le n t to a t le a st 25 p e r cent, of su c h lo a n or lo a n s.
E n c o u r a g e d b y th e s u p p o r t of th e L e a g u e of N a tio n s, th e G reek G o v e rn m e n t im m e d ia te ly
e n te re d in to n e g o tia tio n s in L o n d o n fo r t h e flo atin g of th e loan. T h is re s u lt w as a tta in e d b y m e a n s
of tw o c o n tr a c ts sig n ed b y t h e G reek G o v e rn m e n t one w ith H a m b r o s B a n k , L im ite d , in L o n d o n ,
a n d th e N a tio n a l B a n k of G reece, a t A th e n s, for th e issue of 7,500,000 in L o n d o n a n d 2,500,000
a t A th e n s, a n d t h e o th e r w ith S p e y e r & Co.s B a n k , of N ew Y o rk , fo r th e issue in d o lla rs in N ew
Y o rk of th e e q u iv a le n t of 2,300,000.
T h e k n o w le d g e on th e p a r t of th e su b scrib e rs t h a t th e y w ere c o n tr ib u tin g to a h u m a n ita r ia n
w o rk to e n su re s ta b ility a n d peace in th e E a s t, a n d t h a t t h e s e c u rity offered b y t h e v a r io u s
sig n a to rie s w as ex cellent, m a d e th e p u b lic issue of th e lo a n a strik in g success. T h e C om m ission
ow es a special d e b t ot g r a titu d e to Sir A r t h u r S alter, Mr. N o rm a n , G o v e rn o r of th e B a n k of E n g la n d ,
a n d M. D iom ed es, G o v e rn o r of t h e N a tio n a l B a n k of Greece, for h a v in g c o n tr ib u te d so g r e a tly
t o th is success.
P o sitio n on December 31 st.

T h e first in s ta lm e n t of th e fu n d s d e riv e d fro m t h e lo a n w as p la ce d a t th e d isposal of t h e C o m

m issio n d u rin g J a n u a r y .
U n til th e n it h a d c a rrie d on its w o rk b y m e a n s of advances.
T h e to ta l a d v a n c e s m a d e to th e C om m ission since its cre a tio n , re p a y a b le e ith e r b y a (process
of set-off or fro m su m s ta k e n from th e y ie ld of th e loan, a m o u n te d t o 3,700,000, th e ite m s being
as follow's:
A. B a n k of E n g la n d :
(a) A d v a n c e o f ...................................... 1,000,000
( b) ....................................... 1,000,000
... 2,000,000
B. N a tio n a l B a n k of Greece:
(a) A d v a n c e o f ...................................... 1,000,000
( b) ....................................... 200,000
(c) 11 >'....................................... 500,000
1,700,000
-

T o ta l . . . 3,700,000

These a d v a n c e s h a v e be en r e p a id b y su m s ta k e n fro m th e y ield of th e first in s ta lm e n t m a d e b y

su b scrib e rs t o th e loan of J a n u a r y 6 th , leaving a n a v a ila b le b a la n c e as follows:

Receipts :
(a) Y ield of s u b sc rip tio n s in E n g la n d :
( H a m b ro s B a n k L t d . ) .................. 2,000,000
(b) Y ield of su b sc rip tio n s in A m e rica :
(S peyer & C o . ) ................................ 1,787,543
(c) Y ield of su b sc rip tio n s in G reece:
(N a tio n a l B a n k ) ...................................... 825,000

T o ta l . . . 4,612,543
P aym ents :
(a)R e p a y m e n t of a d v a n c e s (B an k of E n g la n d ) . . 2,000,000
(b) (N at. B a n k of Greece) . 1,700,000
(c)S u m a v a ila b le in E n g l a n d ......................... 787,543
(d) a t th e N a t. B a n k of Greece . . . 125,000

T o ta l . . . 4,612,543
T he a v a ila b le su m s m e n tio n e d a b o v e som e 900,000 w ill s h o rtly b e in c re a se d b y th e
follow ing a m o u n ts re p re se n tin g a p p ro x im a te ly th e figures fo r th e second a n d t h ir d in s ta lm e n ts
of su b sc rip tio n s to th e loan.

Second in sta lm en t ( F e b r u a r y 17th, 1925):

H a m b r o s B a n k ................................. 1,875,000
N a tio n a l B a n k of Greece . . . . 625,000

2,500,000
T hird instalm ent (M arch 18th, 1925) :
H a m b r o s B a n k ................................. 2,100,000
N a tio n a l B a n k of G reece . . . . 650,000
2,750,000

T o ta l 5,250,000
 3

As th e C om m ission now k n o w s w h a t su m s a re a v a ila b le , it is d raw in g u p th e p ro g ra m m e of

its w ork a n d its b u d g e t for 1925. T h e D ire c to rs of C olo nisation fo r th e p ro v in c e s in w h ich th e
refugees are being e sta b lish e d h a v e s u b m itte d th e ir b u d g e ts. W e h a v e ju s t received th e b u d g e t
from M acedonia, w h ich is th e la rg e st of all.
T he m a in o b je c tiv e of th e C om m ission for 1925 will be to g r a n t th o se a g ric u ltu ra l refugees who
h av e n o t y e t b e e n e sta b lish e d m ea n s to en a b le th e m to c a rr y on in d e p e n d e n tly in f u tu r e : h ousm g,
seed, live-stock, ploughs, a n d , as f a r as possible, dw ellings fo r th e u r b a n refugees ; this, in th e case of
tow n-dw ellers, c o n s titu te s h a lf th e ir e s ta b lis h m e n t.
T he C om m ission is p r e p a r in g th e a c c o u n ts of its first y e a r s w ork, w h ich e n d e d on D ecem b er
;is t, 1924. A cc o m p a n ie d b y th e a u d ito r s re p o rt, t h e y will s h o r tly b e s u b m itte d to t h e L ea g u e
of N atio n s a n d to th e G reek G o v e rn m e n t in c o n fo rm ity w ith th e S ta tu te s .

A g r ic u l t u r a l Settlem ent.

T he W o rk of the Refugees.
T he C om m ission h a s d o ne its w o rk u n d e r v a r y in g a n d difficult co n d itio n s, b u t h a s nev erth eless,
by sure stages, a ch iev ed co n sid erab le progress. A n y o n e v isitin g th o se p a r ts of th e c o u n tr y w here
colonisation h a s b e e n c a rrie d on will h a v e n o difficu lty in o b ta in in g an id ea of th e re su lts achieved.
Most of th e c e n tre s c re a te d h a v e b r o u g h t in c rea sin g a c tiv ity to th e ir re sp e c tiv e d is tric t a n d
ha v e s tim u la te d th e u r b a n a n d r u r a l life of th e c o u n tr y to a r e m a rk a b le degree.
T his is especially s trik in g in M acedonia, w h ich ab so rb s th e g re a t m a jo r ity of th e colonists.
A tr a v e lle r in M a cedon ia to - d a y c a n m e a su re t h e e x te n t of th e w o rk acco m p lish ed b y c o m p a
rison w ith th e fo rm e r s ta te of th e c o u n try . A m id th e v a s t o n c e -d e se rte d p la in s a n d in th e w ide
u n c u ltiv a te d fields, w h ere n o th in g w as t o b e seen b u t occasional h e rd s led b y n o m a d sh e p h e rd s,
villages h a v e s p ru n g u p b u s tlin g w ith life, w ith large a n d w ell-designed stre e ts a n d sim p le b u t s a n i
ta ry c o tta g e s a n d b u s y shops, w h e re th e r u r a l a rtisa n s, th e lo c k sm ith , th e b la c k s m ith a n d th e
farrier, h a v e cou rag eo u sly re su m e d th e ir w ork. A ro u n d th e se sm all c e n tre s a re fields co v ere d w ith
w heat a n d b a rle y , o th e r s sow n w ith c o tto n or to b a c co , a n d b e y o n d th e m th e v in e y a rd s a n d all
the o th e r n ew ly e sta b lish e d form s of c u ltiv a tio n .
E v e n th e c o a st of M aced onia, w h ic h w a s fo rm e rly d e se rte d , is b e g in n in g to b e p o p u la te d w ith
sea-folk a n d fisherm en, refugees fro m th e P ro p o n tis, th e B lac k Sea a re a a n d th e shores of A sia
Minor. I n m a n y b a y s w h e re n o living soul h a d b ee n seen w ith in th e m e m o ry of m a n , th e re are
now little fleets of fishing-sm acks, sailing-vessels w ith cargo a n d ev e n sm all s h ip y a rd s in fact,
the beg in n in g s of a sm all m a r itim e ce n tre .
O ur a g e n ts re p o r t t o us v a rio u s s y m p to m s of a c tiv ity a n d v ita lity o n th e p a r t of th e refugees
in spite of m a n y a d v e rse c irc u m sta n c e s in d istric ts su ch as th e m a rs h y p lain s of th e V a rd a r a n d
the S tru m a , w h ere h e a lth c o n d itio n s a re d e p lo ra b le .
O ne v e ry e n c o u ra g in g sign to th e c re d it of th e colonised refugees is ge n era lly observ ed, viz.,
th a t, fa r fro m h a v in g lo st th e desire for w o rk , th e y a re crying o u t, a b o v e all o th e r help , for th e m eans
which will e n ab le th e m to engage in p r o d u c tiv e labo ur. W e m a y m e n tio n a co n c rete e x a m p le of
this a n x ie ty to g e t to w ork. O w ing to th e la ck of dw ellings a n d th e h a r d clim ate, th e colonisation
auth o rities in M a cedon ia h a d fo rb id d e n th e refugees who w ere a w a itin g a t th e p o r ts th e ir t u r n for
settlem ent to p ro c e ed in la n d in m id -w in ter. W h e re u p o n th e y rose u p a n d d e m a n d e d th e ir im m e
diate tr a n s p o r t, p re ferrin g to live in te n ts on th e icy p lain s of th e V a rd a r r a th e r t h a n to m iss th e
sowing season.
W e could q u o te m a n y o th e r proo fs of th is m o ra l energ y to b e fo u n d in m o st of th e refugees
which justifies u s in ta k in g a n o p tim istic view of th e f u tu re of th e refugee se ttle rs, who a re u rg e d
to w ork n o t o n ly b y th e in s tin c t of se lf-p re serv atio n b u t also, a n d m o re p a rtic u la rly , b y t h e in v in
cible desire to c re a te b e t t e r co n d itio n s fo r th e m selv e s.

Statem ent of Settlem ent for 1924.

T h e first p a r t of th e w in te r p e rio d co v ered b y th e p re s e n t re p o rt h a s be e n m a in ly a p erio d of
p re p a ra to ry w ork, w hich is b o u n d to increase in e x te n t in th e spring. A t th e sam e tim e , th e w ork
has been u n in te rr u p te d , as is sh o w n b y th e follow ing figures s u p p le m e n tin g th e figures in th e last
report :
F a m ilie s settled:
In M acedonia, b e tw e e n J a n . 1st a n d Dec. 31st, 1924 43 ,9 4 4
T h ra c e , 13,300 1
o th e r p ro v in c e s 5,339 2
62,583
F a m ilie s settled by the State before th e c re a tio n of th e
R efugee S e ttle m e n t C om m ission:
In M acedonia, b e tw e e n S ep t. 1922 a n d Dec. 1923. 66,920
O th e r p r o v i n c e s ......................................... 5,661
T o ta l of fam ilies s e t t l e d 135,164
.

1 These families c a n n o t all be considered as definitely se ttle d (see page 6, la s t p a ra g ra p h of c h a p te r entitled W estern
Thrace ).
2 T he figure given in t h e la s t q u a rte rly re p o rt for th e o th e r provinces of Greece included th e 5,766 families a t Mitylene,
which we are de d u ctin g fro m th e figure given in this re p o r t owing to th e fact t h a t the M itylene s e ttle m e n t effected b y the
State D e p a rtm e n t is sub je ct to revision a n d th e M inistry is proposing to tak e it over from th e Commission.
 4

Of th is t o t a l of 135,164 it is re c k o n e d t h a t 110,864 fam ilies h a v e b e e n s e ttle d in M a cedon ia,

e ith e r b y th e S ta te or b y th e C om m ission. T h is n u m b e r is d iv id e d as follows :
(a) 32,21 4 fam ilies are r e g a r d e d as in d e p e n d e n t, livin g e ith e r in h o u se s of e x c h a n g e d T u rk s
or in th o s e b u ilt for th e m b y o u r D e p a r tm e n t. T h e y o n ly nee d to o rg an ise th e m se lv e s
to e n su re th e fu ll d e v e lo p m e n t of th e ir a g ric u ltu ra l reso u rces ;
(b) 52,574 fam ilies will still h a v e to b e p ro v id e d w ith seed g ra in fo r th e co m ing season a n d
s u b siste n c e g r a n ts for six m o n th s . T h ese fam ilies a re living e ith e r in ho u ses b u ilt b y th e
C om m issio n o r in T u rk is h h o u se s o r c o n c e n tr a te d in n a tiv e dw ellings a n d ev en in te m p o
r a r y shed s e re c te d b y t h e D e p a r tm e n t ;
(c) 26,076 fam ilies n ee d seed g ra in a n d a su b sis te n c e g r a n t fo r one y e a r, as well as c o m p le te
sets of im p le m e n ts . T h e y h a v e no h o u ses b u t, like th e last c a te g o ry , o n ly te m p o r a r y
sh e lte r.
H o u se s constructed :
I n a d d itio n to th e 5,023 houses b u ilt b y th e S ta te an d t h e 50,000
h o u ses b elo ngin g t o e x ch an g e ab le T u rk s fro m M acedo nia, th e Com m ission
h a s b u ilt :
I n M a c e d o n i a ...................................................................... 7,510 1
I n T h r a c e ............................................................................... 2,612 2
O th e r p r o v i n c e s .................................................................. 1,237

T o ta l . . . i i ,359
A n im a ls d istrib uted :
In M a c e d o n i a ...................................................................... 36,162
I n T h r a c e ................................................................................ 2,107
O th e r p r o v i n c e s .................................................................. 3,527

T o ta l . . . 41,796
I n a d d itio n , th e r e h a v e b e e n re q u isitio n e d a n d
{a) d is tr ib u te d b y t h e S t a t e ......................................... 39,935
(b) h a n d e d o v e r b y th e A r m y .................................... 15,782
(c) d is tr ib u te d b y th e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re . . 903

T o ta l of a n im a ls in t h e possession of th e refugees 98,416 3

(E x c lu d in g d e a th s , n u m b e r of w hich is n o t k n o w n to d ate.)
P loughs :
I n M a c e d o n i a ...................................................................... 29,736
I n T h r a c e ................................................................................ 2,482
O th e r p r o v i n c e s .................................................................. 2,397

T o ta l . . 34,615
Seed grain :
I n M a c e d o n i a ..................................................................... okes 4 10,319,494
I n T h r a c e ................................................................................ 950,728
O th e r p r o v i n c e s ................................................................. 695,225

T o ta l . . 11,965,447
Forage :
I n M a c e d o n i a ........................................................................ okes 10,108,998
I n T h r a c e ................................................................................ 970,586
O th e r p r o v i n c e s .................................................................. 159,555

T o ta l . . . 11,239,139
W agons :
I n M a c e d o n i a ...................................................................... 3,265
In T h r a c e ............................................................................... 258
O th e r p r o v i n c e s ................................................................. 174

T o ta l . . 3,697
Subsistence Grants in K i n d (C o rn ) :
I n M a c e d o n i a ........................................................................ okes 16,161,591
In T h r a c e ................................................................................ 1,489,363
O th e r p r o v i n c e s .................................................................. 239,811

T o ta l . . 17,890,765
1 E x clu d in g S cm m erfeld-D ehatege houses in course of construction.
2 473 houses are in course of c o n stru ctio n in T h rac e in ad d itio n to th e n u m b er given above.
3 O ur S ta tistica l D e p a rtm e n t re p o rt in M acedonia th a t, a p a r t from th e figures given above, there is a fu rth e r 30 per
cent. in som e cases 50 p e r cent. of an im als w hich th e refugees h a v e p ro cured for themselves.
4 1 oke equals 1,280 gram m es.
 5

Subsistence Grants i n M o n e y :
I n M aced o n ia . D rs. 12,381,435
I n T h ra c e . . . 793,920
O th e r p ro v in c e s ,
1 3 5 6 3 ,8 6 5

T o ta l . . D rs. 26,739,220
Professional Grants.
B y th is is m e a n t a d v a n c e s to sp e c ia list c u ltiv a to r s , for e x a m p le , to p o u ltr y - f a r m ers, b e e
keepers, silk w o rm gro w ers a n d e v e n to fisherm en, as well as to a r tis a n s in d isp e n sa b le to v illage life,
such as th e b la c k s m ith , t h e fa rrie r, t h e co b b ler, t h e b a k e r, t h e c a r te r a n d th e joiner. T h e su m
ad v a n c e d is t h a t c o n sid e re d s tr ic tly n e c e ssa ry for t h e diffe re n t tra d e s .

M iscellaneous Cultivation.
P a r tic u la r c a re is b e in g d e v o te d t o special b ra n c h e s of a g ric u ltu r e in a c c o rd a n c e w ith G reek
m ethod s. T h e d e v e lo p m e n t of vin e-g ro w in g , o w ing to th e la rg e n u m b e r of v in e -g ro w e rs a m o n g
th e refugees, is b e in g c o n d u c te d on scien tific lines a n d a f te r a p r e lim in a r y an aly sis of th e soil.
F ive m illion A m e ric a n vines h a v e a lre a d y b e e n o rd e re d fro m F ra n c e , 1,225,000 v in e -s h o o ts (w ith
ro o ts), 395,000 g r a f ts fro m th e b e s t W e s te r n v a rie tie s a n d 200,000 u n g r a f te d p la n ts .
T he d e v e lo p m e n t of silk w o rm -g ro w in g , w h ic h w as fo rm e rly o n e of t h e m a in re so u rc e s of
M acedonia, is receivin g t h e a t te n tio n of th e c o m p e te n t D e p a r tm e n t a n d is m a k in g good p ro g ress,
th a n k s t o t h e g ra n ts m a d e to p r o m o te g ro w in g a n d to re p lac e t h e m u lb e r ry - tre e s d e s tr o y e d d u rin g
th e E u r o p e a n W a r, p a r tic u la r ly in t h e B o e m its a d istric t. O ne h u n d r e d a n d fifty th o u s a n d
m u lb e rry -sh o o ts h a v e a lre a d y b e e n b o u g h t a n d fresh p u rc h a s e s a re c o n tin u a lly b e in g m a d e .
This w o rk is b e in g c a rrie d on in p a r tic u la r a t B o e m itsa , V erria, E d e ssa , K a r a t s o v a a n d F io rin a
(M acedonia).
A few fre sh g ro u p s of refu g ees h a v e b e e n s e ttle d a t V erria, D r a m a a n d E d e ssa , w h ose m a in
occu p atio n co n sists in g row ing roses t o s u p p ly a t t a r of ro ses; th e ro s e -tre e s a re im p o r te d fro m
K a sa n lik in B u lg a ria ; t h e rose g a rd e n s a re c u ltiv a te d b y refugees fro m V o u rd o u r, S p a r ta of
P issidia a n d fro m T h e iro n of A d in i .
T h e in tr o d u c tio n of to b a c c o -g ro w in g in to W e s te rn M acedo nia h a s g iv e n v e r y g o o d r e s u lts in
some d istric ts, p a r tic u la r ly a t C h ru p is ta . T h e q u a lity of th e to b a c c o p ro d u c e d m a y b e c o m p a re d
w ith th e b e s t q u a litie s of E a s te r n M acedonia.
In th e l a t t e r d is tric t, th e c u ltiv a tio n of to b a c c o show s a n in c rea se of 15 p e r c e n t o v e r la st ye ar,
in spite of th e d e p a r tu r e of th e M u su lm an s.
T he go od re s u lts o b ta in e d la s t y e a r fro m th e c u ltiv a tio n of te x tile h e m p in t h e Y a n its a d is tric t
hav e led to a n in c rea se of th is c u ltiv a tio n .
W ith r e g a r d t o c a ttle -b re e d in g , t h e n e c e ssa ry ste p s h a v e b e e n t a k e n t o e n su re n o t o n ly an
increase b u t a n im p r o v e m e n t of sto c k a n d p r o d u c tio n of fo ra g e of good q u a lity .

Harvest.
T he d ro u g h t w hich u n til r e c e n tly th r e a te n e d th e h a r v e s t h a s f o r tu n a te ly b ee n b ro k e n b y a
sufficient fall of ra in , w h ich, for th e tim e b ein g, h a s s a v e d th e s itu a tio n , a n d it is to be h o p e d t h a t
we m a y b e s p a re d th e d is a s te r wrh ic h b efell th e la s t h a rv e s t.

T able of t h e V a r io u s Cr o ps in M a c e d o n ia for t h e A g r ic u l t u r a l Y e a r
A u g u s t 1923 t o A u g u s t 1924.

N u m b e r of fam ilies of c u l t i v a t o r s ........................................... 67,903

Crops : S trem m ata

W heat ................................................................................ 313,925.00
B a r l e y ................................................................................ 166,017.00
M a i z e .................................................................................... 277,897.00
R y e .................................................................................... 47,685.00
O robus ( V e t c h ) ................................................................. 9,594.75
O a t s .................................................................................... 25,102.25
L e g u m in o u s p l a n t s ......................................................... 30,131.25
V e g e t a b l e s ....................................................................... 6,936.00
T o b a c c o ............................................................................ 93,727.50
C o t t o n ................................. 23,574.50
S e s a m e ................................................................................ 32,182.75
Melons, w a te r-m e lo n s, e t c ............................................ 15,494.25
V in e s ..................................................................................... 1,077.50
P o t a t o e s ............................................................................ 2,288.75
M ille t..................................................................................... 13,061.75
A n is e e d ................................................................................. 533.00
R i c e ..................................................................................... 304.00
M i s c e l l a n e o u s .................................................................. 137.25

T o ta l . . . . 1 ,0 5 9 ,6 6 9 .5 0
 6

D rin k in g -w a te r in the N ew Villages.

I n o rd e r to e n s u re a sufficient q u a n t i t y of d rin k in g -w a te r for th o s e refugee villag es w hich
a re in su ffic ie n tly su p p lie d , t h e C om m ission h a s d ra w n u p a p la n of h y d ra u lic w o rk to b e c a rrie d o u t
in M a c e d o n ia a n d W e s te r n T h r a c e w h ich co n sists in :
(1) C a tc h m e n t of s p rin g -w a te r (in a few places) ;
(2) O r d in a r y w ells in s u ita b le sp o ts ;
(3) I n cases w h ere th e c a tc h m e n t of sp rin g -w a te r a n d sh allo w drillings are
im possible, deep b o rin g s to e n su re p u re w a te r.
T h e C om m ission h a s o b ta in e d on t h e s p o t tw o A m e ric a n in s ta lla tio n s , w hich h a v e b e e n sent
to S a lo n ik a .
I t h a s ju s t r e c e n tly a c q u ire d , th r o u g h th e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re , e ig h t n ew G e rm a n ap p lian ces,
w h ich will b e d e liv e re d s h o rtly . F iv e of th e se will b e used in T h ra c e a n d t h e o th e r th r e e in M ace
do n ia.
T h e n e c e ssa ry te c h n ic a l staff is n o w b e in g re c ru ited .
I n th e m e a n tim e in v a rio u s d is tr ic ts a n an aly sis is b eing m a d e of w a te r w h ic h h a s b e e n d e c la re d
u n d rin k a b le ow ing to excess of lim e sa lts, w ith a view to re m e d y in g th is b y c h e m ica l o r p h y sica l
m ea n s.
W estern T hrace.

W e m e n tio n e d in o u r ea rlie r r e p o r ts t h a t th e co lo n isa tio n of W e s te rn T h ra c e , w h e re alm o st

all t h e la n d b elo n g s to th e T u rk s, w as c o n d itio n a l u p o n th e re p u rc h a s e of t h e large T u rk is h p r o
p e rtie s. T h is re - p u rc h a s e h a s, u n til ju s t re c e n tly , m e t w ith m a n y difficulties. A re c e n t law
( J a n u a r y 10 th , 1925) a n d t h e p u b lic a tio n of th e D ecree of J a n u a r y 14 th , 1925, h a v e se rv e d to
fa c ilita te re -p u rc h a se , b u t, e v e n so, it h a s n o t p e r h a p s b een m a d e sim ple enou gh.
I n a p p lic a tio n of th e se m e a su re s, th e C e n tra l G o v e rn m e n t h a s g iv e n in s tr u c tio n s to t h e a u t h o
ritie s in T h ra c e t o e x p e d ite m a tte r s ; th e r e are, how ever, difficulties in th e w a y . S e v e ra l c irc u m
sta n c e s, in c lu d in g th e p re v a ilin g u n c e r ta in ty as to b o u n d a r y m a rk s, title-d ee d s, etc., will p ro b a b ly
d e la y o p e r a tio n s c o n sid e ra b ly . E ig h t h u n d r e d th o u s a n d s tr e m m a ta of la n d h a v e so f a r b e e n
r e - p u rc h a s e d a n d c a n be h a n d e d o v er to t h e Com m ission. Of th is la n d , 600,000 s tr e m m a ta
(i.e., 60,000 h e c ta re s) c a n b e c u ltiv a te d .
M eanw hile, th e s itu a tio n in W e s te rn T h r a c e as re g a rd s c o lo n isatio n re m a in s s o m e w h a t
c o m p lic a te d . O f t h e 15,326 f a r m e r s fam ilies w h ic h w ere s e ttle d th e r e a t t h e en d of D ecem ber,
th is p ro v in c e c a n ab so rb 14,830 fa rm e r s fam ilies in th e p lain s a n d 1,853 fam ilies of c a ttle -b re e d e rs
in t h e m o u n ta in o u s d is tric t on th e fro n tie r, b u t o n ly if th e 2,000 T u rk is h fam ilies w h o c a m e fro m
W e s te r n T h r a c e w ho a re n o w refugees in E a s te r n T h ra c e (T u rk ish te rrito ry ) d o n o t m a k e u se of
th e ir rig h t to r e t u r n a n d re -e sta b lish th e ir hom es. I n th e la t t e r e v e n t, 2,000 will, of course, h a v e
to b e d e d u c te d fro m t h e figures g iv en above.
M ost of th e G reek a g ric u ltu ra l refugees in W e ste rn T h ra c e h a v e in g re a te r o r less degree
b e g u n to c u ltiv a te th e T u rk is h la n d n o t y e t re -p u rc h a se d . W e e s tim a te t h e n u m b e r a t 13,300
fam ilies, b u t th e se c u ltiv a to rs are n o t p e r m a n e n tly s e ttle d a n d a re w a itin g fo r r e -p u rc h a se to ta k e
place, a f te r w h ich th e la n d will b e a llo tte d .

A rrangem ent w it h the State r e g a r d in g B u il d in g in T hrace.

T h e G reek G o v e rn m e n t h a s j u s t s u b m itte d to th e R efu gee S e ttle m e n t C om m ission th e q u e stio n

of e re c tin g villages a n d u r b a n q u a r te r s in W e s te rn T h ra c e w ith a view to th e fu lfilm en t of a
sp e c ial u n d e r ta k in g g iv e n b y th e G reek G o v e rn m e n t t o th e T u r k is h G o v e rn m e n t to e v a c u a te b y
t h e a u t u m n ho uses belo n g in g to T u r k is h villagers a n d to w n sp e o p le in w hich G reek refugees h a v e
b ee n g iv e n a c c o m m o d a tio n .
T h e G o v e rn m e n t p ro m ise s to cede to th e C om m ission t h e full o w n e rsh ip of sites in th e to w n s as
w ell as la n d in t h e c o u n tr y (w ith th e n e c e ssa ry p lo ts fo r colonisation), u p o n w'hich w ill b e b u ilt th e
4,500 c o tta g e s a n d 1,500 u r b a n dw ellings w hich th e C om m ission is for t h e m o m e n t u n d e r ta k in g to
erect. T h e t o t a l n u m b e r of c o tta g e s to b e b u ilt in T h ra c e will p r o b a b ly re ac h 8,500.
W h e th e r th is schem e for c o lo n isa tio n c a n b e c a r rie d in to effect d e p e n d s u p o n th e re-p u rc h a se
of th e p r o p e r ty ju s t re fe rre d to. I t is to b e h o p e d t h a t th e fo rm a litie s n e c e ssa ry fo r th e a c q u isitio n
of T u rk is h p r o p e r ty w ill be e n e rg e tic a lly p u s h e d forw ard.

Q u e s t io n of L and in the other P r o v in c e s .

I n o u r la s t r e p o rt we g a v e th e figure of 2,850,000 s tr e m m a ta as a very approxim ate e s tim a te

of th e la n d in u se for p u rp o se s of colo n isatio n . A t th e en d of D ec e m b er 1924, t h e la n d g r a n te d
for th e s e ttle m e n t of refugees a m o u n te d ro u g h ly to t h e following:
T ota l A rea granted Cultivable L a n d
S tr e m m a ta S tr e m m a ta
M a c e d o n i a ............................................... 4,200,000 2,414,573
T h r a c e ........................................................ 100,000 100,000
O ld Greece, E p iru s a n d t h e Isla n d s
(excluding M itylene : see second
fo o tn o te o n p a g e 3 ) ................... 4 9 4 .8 ?! 335,42?

4,794,871 2,850,000
 7

T h e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re h a s ju s t in fo rm e d u s t h a t it h a s g iv en o rd e rs for th e g r a d u a l

e x p ro p ria tio n of tw o -th ird s of th e p r o p e r tie s in T h e s s a ly w hich a re d ire c tly c u ltiv a te d 1, re p re
senting a n a re a of a b o u t 220,000 s tr e m m a ta ; th is o u r D e p a r tm e n t h a s a lre a d y b e g u n to ta k e over.
I n Euboea, w h e re a c e rta in a m o u n t of p r o p e r ty is still s u b je c t to e x p ro p ria tio n , a n d in o th e r
provinces of G reece, t h e la n d a v a ila b le is being slow ly b u t s te a d ily occupied. E x p r o p r ia tio n is
followed b y th e d is trib u tio n of a llo tm e n ts to t e n a n t fa rm e rs, if th e lease allo w s of th is pro ce d u re ,
an d th e re m a in d e r is given to t h e refugees. T h is o p e ra tio n h a s be e n a ssiste d b y th e A g ric u ltu ra l
Law p assed b y P a r lia m e n t on O c to b e r 3 rd , 1924 ; one of th e m a in c lau se s of th is law p ro v id e s t h a t
th e ow ner of a n e x p r o p ria te d p r o p e r ty is o n ly p e r m itte d t o r e ta in 300 s tr e m m a ta (30 h e c ta r e s ),
all his olive p la n ta tio n s , c e rta in c a te g o rie s of v in e y a rd s a n d m e ad o w -la n d .

Shortage of L a n d .
T he in creasin g sc a rc ity of la n d is b e c o m in g a m a tte r of serious con cern, a n d it is d o u b tf u l
w h e th e r it w ill b e possible to find h o ld in g s for th e 50,000 fam ilies of c u ltiv a to rs of d iffe ren t k in d s
who are still a w a itin g s e ttle m e n t in r u r a l a rea s. T h e R efugee S e ttle m e n t C om m ission h a s r e p e a te d ly
draw n th e a t te n tio n of th e G o v e r n m e n t t o th is m a tte r , a n d still h o p e s t h a t th e S ta te w ill b e able
to sa tisfy its re q u ire m e n ts.
T h e sc a rc ity of a v a ila b le la n d o fte n le a d s t o tro u b le b e tw e e n n a tiv e c u ltiv a to r s a n d refugees,
or betw een tw o o r even th r e e g ro u p s of refugees desirous of o b ta in in g th e sa m e la n d . In som e
cases th e re h a s be e n serious tro u b le , le a d in g ev en to q u a rre llin g a n d fighting. T hese d is p u te s are
to som e e x te n t a tt r i b u t a b l e to th e sh o rtc o m in g s of c e rta in d e p a r tm e n ts a n d also t h e in te rfe re n c e
of u n a u th o ris e d p erson s. On t h e w hole, h o w ev er, th e se in c id e n ts, a lth o u g h re g re tta b le , a re of
sm all im p o rta n c e w h e n w e r e m e m b e r th e m a g n itu d e of th e w o rk in h a n d , w h ich n a tu r a lly c a n n o t
be c a rrie d th r o u g h w ith o u t a h itc h .

Transfer of L a n d .
U p to t h e p re se n t, refug ees h a v e been s e ttle d on:

(a) S ta te p r o p e r ty ;
(b) L a n d m a d e a v a ila b le b y th e e m ig ra tio n of e x c h a n g e a b le T u rk s or B u lg a ria n s ;
(c) R e q u is itio n e d p r iv a te p r o p e r ty ;
(d) E x p r o p r ia te d p r iv a te p r o p e r ty ;
(e) M o n astic p r o p e r ty (M o u n t A thos) m o s tly e x p ro p ria te d , som e of it, how ev er,
a c q u ire d on long leases.
T h e a b o v e a re th e c a te g o rie s of la n d c o rresp o n d in g to t h e figures p re v io u sly giv en , n a m e ly :
land (to ta l area) 4,794,871 s tr e m m a ta , of w h ich 2,850,000 can be cultivated.
S ix ty -fo u r p ro p e rtie s in c lu d e d in la n d w h ich can b e c u ltiv a te d h a v e so ta r been tr a n s f e r r e d in
full o w n ersh ip to t h e C om m ission, n a m e ly :

1. B y D ecree No. 13881 of t h e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re , d a te d F e b r u a r y 6 th , 1924,

p u b lish e d in t h e "Official J o u r n a l of F e b r u a r y 13th, 1924: Strem m ata
37 S ta te p ro p e rtie s r e p r e s e n t i n g ..................................................................................... 252,053
2. B y D ecree No. 96636 of t h e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re , d a te d A u g u st 22nd, 1924,
w hich a p p e a r e d in t h e "Official J o u r n a l of A u g u s t 2 8 th , 1924:
27 e s ta te s of e x c h a n g e a b le T u r k s r e p r e s e n t i n g ........................................................ 106,000

T o t a l ............................ 358,05

T h e a d d itio n a l tra n s fe r to rm a litie s a re still in co m p lete a n d a p p ly o n ly to a p a r t of th e se lands,

f w e n ty -n in e tr a n s f e r deed s h a v e so f a r b e e n d ra w n u p o u t of a t o t a l of 64.
T h e C om m ission h a s re q u e s te d t h e G o v e rn m e n t to c o m p le te th e s e fo rm a litie s a n d t o reg ularise
th e s itu a tio n as re g a rd s th e o th e r la n d s g r a n te d to refugees.

T he R efugees B ank and the C o m m is s io n .

I n o u r la s t re p o rt (page 10) we m e n tio n e d a difficulty w hich h a d a rise n b e tw e e n th e G o v e rn

m ent a n d t h e C om m ission w ith re g a rd t o t h e e s ta b lis h m e n t ot th e R eiu g ees B a n k , w h ich is in te n d e d
to g r a n t lo a n s t o u r b a n refugees. T h is c re d it in s titu tio n , w hich, how ever, h a s n o t y e t begun
operations, w as given, b y th e L aw of S e p te m b e r 12th, 1924, t h e u r b a n im m o v a b le p ro p e rty , a n d th e
forests, p a s tu re s a n d fisheries a b a n d o n e d b y e x c h a n g e d T urk s, th e y ield fro m th e sale of all th is
p ro p e rty c o n s titu tin g th e B a n k s c a p ita l.
T h e C om m ission h a s ra ise d c e r ta in o b je c tio n s to th is a rra n g e m e n t, since a t least a p a r t of th e
forests a n d p a s tu re s a re e sse n tia l for th e s e ttle m e n t of w o o d c u tte rs a n d c a ttle -b re e d e rs, as well as
for th e re q u ire m e n ts of fresh refu g ee c o m m un ities.
T h e p ro je c te d e s ta b lis h m e n t o f th e R efu g ees B a n k h a s occasioned a f u r th e r difficulty, since
th e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re in te n d s to h a n d o v e r to th e B a n k th e olive e s ta te s an d v in e y a rd s in
certain p ro v in c e s e v a c u a te d b y t h e T u rk ish e m ig ra n ts. T h e p r o p e r ty of a ll la n d t h a t c a n be

1 T he la n d in q u estion is w orked d irectly b y th e owners a n d n o t b y t e n a n t farmers.

cultivated fo rm e rly belo n g in g to e x c h a n g e a b le T u rk s w as tra n s fe rre d t o th e R efu gee S e ttle m e n t
C om m ission b y t h e te rm s of th e le tte r No. 55865 fro m t h e M in istry of A g ric u ltu re , d a te d A u g u st
21st, 1924. I n t h a t le tte r, no d istin c tio n w as m a d e b e tw e e n different kin d s of la n d . I t w as o n ly in
N o v e m b e r t h a t th e G o v e rn m e n t m a n ife ste d its in te n tio n to la y c la im o n b e h a lf of th e B a n k to th e
v in es a n d olives p a r tic u la rly in M itylene a n d to som e e x te n t in E p ir u s m a d e a v a ila b le b y the
e x c h a n g e of n a tio n a ls.
T h e q u e stio n is a t p re se n t th e s u b je c t of n e g o tia tio n s w ith th e G o v e rn m e n t.

H ealth Sit u a t io n .

T h e serious s itu a tio n m e n tio n e d in th e la st re p o r t still causes g ra v e a n x ie ty .

T h e C om m ission h a s e x a m in e d , in co -o p e ra tio n w ith th e L eague of N a tio n s, th e G reek G o v e rn
m e n t, a n d o th e r c o m p e te n t a u th o ritie s , a sch em e for im p ro v in g t h e s a n ita ry c o n d itio n s in which
t h e refugees a re a t p r e s e n t living, p a r tic u la r ly in M acedonia a n d T h ra c e, a n d also fo r giving th e m
m e d ic a l assistance.
T h is sc h em e, w h ich is a t p re se n t u n d e r discussion, inclu des th e e sta b lish m e n t of som e 250
d isp e n sa rie s th r o u g h o u t Greece. E a c h d is p e n sa ry w ill h a v e its d o cto r, w ho will m a k e to u r s a t
fixed tim e s w ith in a lim ite d r a d iu s ; t h e d isp e n sa ry will give th e n e ce ssa ry t r e a t m e n t in u rg e n t
cases a n d w ill s u p p ly m edicine. I n a d d itio n to th is to u r in g d o cto r, th e re will b e a second qualified
d o c to r, b u t of low-er s ta n d in g . A c o n trib u tio n schem e is b eing considered w h e re b y each refugee
wrou ld p a y a sm all a n n u a l su m for m e d ica l a id ; m edicine w ould b e sold a t p ra c tic a lly c o st price.
I t is to b e h o p e d t h a t b y th is m ea n s th e ra v a g e s of fever, diarrhoea a n d o th e r p r e v a le n t diseases
m a y b e d im in ish e d . As th e r u r a l p o p u la tio n g ain s confidence in th e w o rk of th e m ed ica l staff,
it m ig h t p e rh a p s a c q u ire th e h a b it of ta k in g c e rta in h ygien ic a n d p re v e n tiv e m ea su res w hich
w o u ld g r e a tly c o n tr ib u te to im p ro v e h e a lth c o n d itio n s in general.
V a lu a b le ex p e rien c e h a s a lre a d y b e e n g a in e d in th is re sp e c t b y c e rta in p h ila n th ro p ic in s titu tio n s
w h ich h a v e b e e n w 'orking in G reece fo r som e tim e ; th e C om m ission ho p es to profit b y th e ir good
a d v ic e w h e n it com es to fixing th e d e ta ils of th e schem e. I n response to o u r ap p ea l, th e A m erican
R e d Cross h a s k in d ly in fo rm e d us of t h e d e s p a tc h of five to n s of quinine. W e ta k e th is occasion
to e x p re ss o u r h e a r tfe lt th a n k s to th is in s titu tio n , w hich h a s a lre a d y on se v e ra l occasions c o n tri
b u te d in m a n y w a y s to th e relief of th e refugees a n d which la st y e a r su p p lied tw e lv e to n s of qu inine.
T h e C om m ission itself is now giving a n o rd e r for a b o u t te n to n s of qu inine.
I n f a n t m o r ta lity is th e m o st d isq u ie tin g fe a tu re am o n g th e refugees, especially in M adedonia.
D u rin g t h e s u m m e r m o n th s th e m o r ta lity figures fo r y o u n g children in crease w ith th e rise in
te m p e r a tu r e a n d th e in c re ase of th e m a la ria -c a rry in g m o squ itoes. O th e r causes a re th e lack pf
w holesom e fo o d a n d th e difficulty 01 o b ta in in g good fresh m ilk ; t h e hig h p rice of m ilk is a c h a r a c
te ris tic fe a tu r e of r u r a l life in Greece.
T h e R efu g e e S e ttle m e n t Com m ission h a s b e e n re lia b ly in fo rm ed t h a t , u nless stro n g m easures
a re ta k e n t o re m e d y th is s ta te of affairs, t h e d e a th - r a te am o n g th e a lre a d y en feebled c h ild ren will
r e a c h a te rrib le figure.

U rban Settlem ent.

P rogram m e for 1925.
T h e la st q u a r te r h a s b e e n m a in ly a p erio d of p re lim in a ry in v e stig a tio n in th e q u e stio n of u rb a n
c o lo n isa tio n . D u rin g th e s e th r e e m o n th s , no s e ttle m e n t of a n y im p o rta n c e h a s be e n estab lish ed ,
a n d th e U r b a n D e p a r tm e n t h a s confined its a tte n tio n to c a rry in g o u t th e p ro g ra m m e w hich
e v e n ts fo rc e d th e C om m ission to a d o p t a t t h e v e r y o u tset.
T h e p o lic y h ith e r to follow ed in th e m a t t e r of u r b a n c o lo n isa tio n w as n o t, indeed , decided
u p o n b y t h e C om m ission itself. T h e la tte r , u n d e r th e te rm s of th e P ro to co l, w as th e successor
of in s titu tio n s w h ich t h e G reek S ta te s h a d itself set u p w h en im m ig ra tio n b e g an , in c lu d in g m u ch
of th e w o rk w h ich h a d b e e n e n tr u s te d to th e R efu g e e Relief F u n d . C on seq u en tly , it h a s h ith e r to
b e e n fo rc ed to d e v o te its reso u rces to c o m p le tin g w o rk a lre a d y b e g u n a n d in m a n y cases p ro ceed ed
w ith to a co n sid e ra b le e x te n t (d istric ts in A th e n s, P ir u s, E leusis, Volo a n d E dessa) u n d e r th e
p re ssu re of u r g e n t needs in t h e e a rly d a y s of th e influx. M oreover, u n c e r ta in ty as to th e d a te on
w h ich fre sh c re d its could b e o b ta in e d a n d as to th e a m o u n t of th ese cre d its p r e v e n te d th e C om m is
sion fro m e x te n d in g its w o rk b e y o n d th ese lim its.
B y a h a p p y coincidence, a t th e v e r y m o m e n t w h e n th is first p ro g ra m m e w as n e a rin g c o m
p le tio n , th e success of th e lo an m a d e it possible for th e Com m ission to give c o n sid e ra tio n to th e
w hole p ro b le m of s e ttlin g u r b a n refugees a n d fo r th e first tim e to d ra w u p a schem e b a s e d on th e
tw o n a t u r a l fa c to rs in th e p ro b le m th e n ee d s of th e u r b a n refugees th e m se lv es a n d th e funds
a v a ila b le .
I n a p p o rtio n in g th e fu n d s o b ta in e d fro m th e loan , a su m of a b o u t 1,500,000 h a s b een assigned
for u r b a n co lo nisation. B efore d e te rm in in g in d e ta il how' th is su m is to b e e m p lo y e d a n d th e
e x a c t figure will d e p e n d on th e decisions ta k e n in c o n n e ctio n w ith th e b u d g e t fo r th is p u rp o se
an a g re e m e n t h a d to b e re a c h e d b e tw e e n t h e G reek G o v e rn m e n t a n d th e Com m ission. F o r, even
a fte r th e C om m ission h a d b e g u n its w o rk , th e S ta te c o n tin u e d to ta k e a d ire c t p a r t in e sta b lish in g
th e refugees. U r b a n co m m u n itie s h a v e b e e n e sta b lish e d b y th e R elief F u n d , w hich carries on its
w o rk in se v e ra l p a r ts of th e c o u n try . I t w as im p o r ta n t, th erefo re, to define, in th e m a n n e r m o st
a d v a n ta g e o u s fo r th e refugees th e m se lv es, th e a re a in w h ich th e Com m ission is to w o rk in th e fu tu re .
A first re su lt of th e a g re e m e n t is t h a t th e Com m ission will h e n c e fo rth c a rr y o u t n o c o n stru c tio n a l
work in A th e n s a n d Piraeus, w h e re it h a s a lre a d y in s ta lle d o v e r 100,000 im m ig ra n ts. A lth o u g h
this d istric t h a s sh o w n a p o w e r of a b s o rp tio n to w hich we re fe rre d in o u r p re v io u s re p o rt, it is
nevertheless d e sira b le to p re v e n t th e to o -r a p id g ro w th of t h e c a p ita l, w hich m ig h t becom e a source
of social a n d econom ic d a n g e r to th e c o u n try .
T he a g re e m e n t in q u e stio n , t h e m a in lines of w hich h a v e a lre a d y b e e n d e te rm in e d , lay s dow n
th a t th e Com m ission will no lo n g er u n d e r ta k e c o n s tru c tio n a l w o rk in th e large c e n tre s (A thens,
Piraeus, S alonik a, P a tra s ). If in t h e f u tu r e it is th o u g h t n e ce ssa ry to in s ta ll fresh refugees th e re,
th e S ta te , th r o u g h one of its ow n o rg a n isa tio n s (m ain ly th ro u g h th e R elief Func ), is to u n d e rta k e
this work.
On th e o th e r h a n d , th e C om m ission will e n d e a v o u r to co -o rd in a te th e w o rk of u r b a n a n d
ag ric u ltu ral co lonisation. A cco rd in g to a ru le w hich ex perience h a s sh o w n to b e soun d, th e e s ta b
lishm ent of a n a g ric u ltu ra l p o p u la tio n in a g iv e n d is tric t increases to a c e rta in e x te n t th e c a p a c ity
of ab so rp tio n of to w n s in t h a t d is tric t.
A ccordingly, th e rle of th e D e p a r tm e n t fo r U r b a n C olonisation w ill h e n c e fo rth b e to re in
force, if possible in th is p ro p o rtio n , th e u r b a n p o p u la tio n of c e n tre s in th e d istric ts w h e re a g ri
cu ltu ra l refugees a re b e in g se ttle d . T h e final choice of to w n s a n d th e a llo ca tio n of dw ellings
betw een th e se to w n s will n o t b e d e c id e d till t h e e n d of F e b r u a r y .
The difference b e tw e e n th e t o ta l fu n d s set asid e for th e U r b a n D e p a r tm e n t a n d th e p rice
of th e dw ellings to b e c o n s tru c te d will b e used:
(1) T o e x te n d a lre a d y existing q u a r te r s b y p ro v id in g th e m w ith p ublic in sta lla tio n s
a n d ca rry in g o u t w o rk of g e n e ra l u tility ; a n d
(2) I n e rec tin g a few q u a r te r s n o t e x a c tly in c lu d e d in th e p ro g ra m m e t h a t we h a v e
ju s t o u tlin e d , b u t in re g a rd to w h ich th e R efugee S e ttle m e n t C om m ission h a d a lre a d y
g iven a n u n d e rta k in g to th e p erso n s concerned.
F ro m th e p o in t of view of th e econom ic r e tu r n fro m th e se q u a rte rs , a fa c t to b e n o te d a p a r t
from th e re n ts w h ich will g ra d u a lly b e o b ta in e d fro m all dw ellings a t p re se n t te m p o ra rily o ccupied
free of c h a rg e a n d a p a r t fro m th e sale of la n d for th e e rectio n of w o rk sh o p s a n d fa c to rie s is th e
decision ta k e n b y th e Com m ission to g r a n t facilities of p a y m e n t to refugees w ho wish to becom e
th e ow ners of t h e hou ses a n d sh ops t h e y a re now occupying. T h e sa tisfa c tio n w ith w hich th e
a n n o u n c em e n t of th is decision w as re c eiv e d b y th e refugees a n d th e h u n d re d s of a p p lic a tio n s w hich
followed a re c le a r signs of th e econom ic re c o v e ry of th ese e x p a tr ia te d G reeks, w h o m a feeling of
n a tio n a l so lid a rity h a s w elcom ed b a c k to th e soil of free Greece w ith a u n a n im ity t h a t com pels
a d m iratio n .
A th en s-P ir u s G roups.

I. Sales of L a n d from J a n u a r y 1st to December 31 st, 1924.

(a) For the erection of houses a n d shops :

1. Sales b y a u c tio n :
A t Io n ia , 2,010 sq. m e tre s a t th e a v e ra g e p rice of 210 d ra c h m a s
p e r sq. m e t r e ......................................................... (1,606 6s. 5d.)

2.
Sales b y p r iv a te c o n tr a c t : Drachmas
A t Io n ia, 630 sq. m e t r e s .......................................................................... 18,060.00
A t B y ro n , sales b y a u c tio n , 49.80 sq. m e t r e s .................................. 13,790.00
T o ta l . . . i ,739 l 8 s - 2d.
(b) For in d u stria l installations (p riv a te sales) :
1. A t Io n ia, 4,556 sq. m e tre s a t 5d r a c h m a s ...................................................... 22,780.00
95 io s. io d .

II. L e ttin g of Houses a n d Shops.

Contracts
From A pril 1 5 th t o O c to b e r 3 1 s t ......................................................................... 1,172
,, N o v em b er 1st t o D e c e m b e r 3 1 st .............................................................. 109

1,281
Cancelled c o n t r a c t s ...................................................................................................... 65

T o ta l . . . . 1,216
Drachmas
Representing an annual revenue o f ........................................................................................ 2,748,873.00
Receipts u p to D e c e m b e r 31st, 1924:
R e n t s .................................................................................................................................. 866,628.40
S e c u ritie s ............................................................................................................................. 433,684.25

III. In d u stria l S u b u rb a n Establishm ents.

B yron: C a rp e n te rs shop (w ith m ach in ery) for 40 w orkm en.

Cesariani T zolaki: W o rk sh o p s for th e m a n u fa c tu re of c a rp e ts: 50 loom s for 200 w o rkm en ;
N igohossian: W o rk sh o p fo r t h e m a n u fa c tu re of c a rp e ts: 40 loom s for 200 w o rk m e n .
Kokkinia: F iv e w o rk sh o p s for the m a n u fa c tu re of O rie n ta l c a rp e ts a re com pleted, containing
200 looms.
 10

T h e w o rk sh o p s for th e m a n u fa c tu re of G reek c a r p e ts a re also rea d y .

T h e lo om s h a v e n o t y e t be en set up.
T h e K a k r a m a n o w o rk sh o p s a n d th o s e of th e C o -operative A ssociation S p a r ta of P issid ia
e m p lo y 250 w o rk m en .
N .B . H u n d r e d s of loom s h a v e be en set u p in p r iv a te houses.

URBAN QUARTERS.

State of W ork on December 31 st, 1924.

... , _ , , , Room s in course . ,
U rb a n q u a rte rs R oom s com pleted q{ c o n stru ction io ta l

A thens-P iraeus ;
I. B y r o n ............................................... 2,782 332 3,H 4
2. C e s a ria n i.......................................... 2,117 900 3,017
3 - I o n i a ............................................... 4.375 832 5.207
4 - K o k k i n i a ..................................... 6,386 1,560 7,946

Provinces 1
5- E l e u s i s .......................................... 825 - 825
6. V o l o ............................................... 786 200 986
7- K o m o t i n i ..................................... 1,400 1,400
8. E d e s s a .......................................... 382 130 512
9- X a n t h i .......................................... 1,400 1,400
10. D i d y m o t i c h o n ............................ 550 550
11. A l e x a n d r o u p o l i s ....................... 32 518 550
12. H a lic a rn a s o s (Crete) . . . . 900 900
T o t a l ................... 17,685 8,722 26,407

General Q u e s t io n s .

A g reem ent of J a n u a r y 25/A, 1925, between the State and the Settlem ent Com m ission.
T h e w o rk of th e C om m ission is b a se d on th e follow ing d o cu m e n ts:
T h e P ro to c o l a n d O rganic S ta tu te s sig n ed a t G e n ev a o n S e p te m b e r 2 9 th , 1923, a n d S e p te m b e r
19th, 1924, w hich c o n s titu te a c o n tr a c t b e tw e e n th e G reek G o v e rn m e n t a n d th e L ea g u e of N a tio n s.
T h e G reek D ecree-law of D e c e m b e r 17th, 1923, p r o m u lg a te d w ith a view to t h e a p p lic a tio n
of t h e tw o p re c ed in g in stru m e n ts.
T h e se in s tr u m e n ts do n o t, h ow ever, b y a n y m e a n s c o v e r all th e q u e stio n s t o be s e ttle d b e tw e e n
th e G reek G o v e rn m e n t a n d t h e Com m ission. C e rta in q u e stio n s w ere n o t foreseen a n d o th e rs w ere
o n ly s e ttle d in a g e n e ral m a n n e r w ith o u t d e te rm in in g th e n e c essa ry pro ce d u re. A s e ttle m e n t
of th e s e q u e stio n s w as n ecessary. T h is w a s p ro v id e d for b y a n A g re e m e n t co n c lu d e d on J a n u a r y
2 5 th , 1925, a fte r n u m e ro u s c o n su lta tio n s w ith th e G o v e rn m e n t. T his A g ree m e n t, w h ich w as signed
b y t h e G o v e rn m e n t a n d b y th e Com m ission, w ill co m e in to force as soon as it h a s b e e n p a sse d b y
th e C h am b er. I t does n o t, of course, m o d ify in a n y w a y th e G e n ev a in s tru m e n ts , b u t it in tro d u c e s
som e m odifications in th e G reek D ecree-law .
A rticle 1 la y s dow n t h a t it is fo r th e G o v e rn m e n t t o select la n d su ita b le for th e se ttle m e n t of th e
refugees a n d to d e te rm in e th e classes of refugees to b e s e ttle d th e reo n . T h e G o v e rn m e n t will place
th e la n d th u s selected a t th e d isp o sal of th e Com m ission, e ith e r u p o n its ow n in itia tiv e o r a t th e
C om m issions re q u e st.
A rticles 2 to 6 deal w ith th e C o m m issio n s ow n sta ff (200 agents) a n d th e G o v e rn m e n t officials
p la c e d a t its d isp o sal (1,800 ag en ts). T h e y p ro v id e fo r m o re u n ifo rm co n d itio n s in re g a rd t o th e
w ork, th e w ages a n d th e respon sibilities of th e se tw o classes of a g en ts, a n d seek to sa fe g u a rd th e
a u th o r ity of th e S ta te a n d of th e C om m ission each in its ow n sphere.
A rticle 7 p ro v id es t h a t d is tric t c o m m itte e s sh all be in s tr u c te d to settle d isp u te s w h ere diffi
c u ltie s a risin g o u t of th e d ivision of la n d b e tw e e n th e n a tiv e in h a b ita n ts a n d t h e refugees th r e a te n
to d is tu r b p u b lic order.
A rticles 8 a n d 9 set u p a M ixed B o a rd co m p o sed of re p re s e n ta tiv e s of th e M inistries, t h e
refugees a n d t h e S e ttle m e n t C om m ission. I t will n o te th e decisions ta k e n b y th e C om m ission
re g a rd in g g e n e ra l or p a r tic u la r ly im p o r ta n t qu estion s, a n d will issue w h e n it th in k s fit re c o m m e n d a
tio n s for th e s e ttle m e n t of su ch q u e stio n s in th e fu tu re . T h e B o a rd w ill also b e e n title d to o b ta in
in fo rm a tio n fro m th e C om m ission on a ll q u e stio n s in w hich it m a y b e in te re ste d . T h e B o a rd will
th ere fo re b e a b le to follow closely th e w o rk of a g ric u ltu ra l a n d u r b a n colon isation. T h e S e ttle
m e n t C om m ission, on th e o th e r h a n d , w ill b e e n title d to a sk th e M ixed B o a r d s advice, a n d th e
n e c essa ry m e asu re s a re p ro v id e d to e nsure t h a t th e B o a rd s h a ll b e a useful o rg a n of liaison b e tw e e n
th e G o v e rn m e n t, th e refugees a n d p u b lic opinion.
Article 10, w ith t h e sam e o b jec t in view, la y s d o w n t h a t a m o n th ly jo u rn a l s h a ll b e p u b lish e d
b y t h e C om m ission on th e progress of th e w o rk of u r b a n a n d a g ric u ltu ra l co lonisation.
A rticle n is in te n d e d t o fa c ilita te t h e tr a n s fe r of la n d to b e h e ld b y t h e C om m ission as its
a b so lu te p r o p e r ty a n d th e s e ttle m e n t of u r b a n refugees.
Article 12 c o n ta in s final pro vision s a n d stresses th e fa c t t h a t th e A g re e m en t does n o t in a n y
w a y p re ju d ic e t h e G eneva Protocol.
 W e a re of o p in io n t h a t th is A g re e m e n t, w h ich re sp e c ts a n d defines th e rig h ts of b o th p arties,
will p ro m o te th e w o rk of colo nisation.

C om p o sitio n of the Settlem ent Com m ission.

Mr. H e n r y M o rg e n th a u , w ho, fo r fa m ily reasons, pro c ee d e d to th e U n ite d S ta te s in A u g u st
1924, w as s u b s e q u e n tly obliged t o resig n h is office as C h a irm a n of th e S e ttle m e n t Com m ission.
T h e Com m ission desires to p a y tr i b u t e h e re to his en erg y a n d d e v o tio n a n d t o th e g en e ro sity
with which, in v a rio u s w ay s, h e f u r th e r e d t h e cause of th e refugees a n d afforded relief to a g re a t
n u m b e r of th e m . Mr. M o rg e n th a u 's d e p a r tu r e w a s a severe loss for th e S e ttle m e n t C om m ission,
which is th u s d e p riv e d of th e fo rce a n d p re stig e of his p e rso n a lity .
T he new C h a irm a n of th e S e ttle m e n t C om m ission, a p p o in te d b y th e L e ag u e of N a tio n s in
place of Mr. M o rg e n th a u , a r riv e d a t A th e n s on F e b r u a r y 7 th a n d e n te re d o n his duties.
Dr. B on zon , w ho, in a c c o rd a n c e w ith t h e O rganic S ta tu te s of th e C om m ission, h a d been
ap p o in ted b y t h e A ctin g C h a irm a n te m p o r a r ily to rep lace Mr. M o rg e n th a u , a c te d as C h a irm a n fro m
July u n til th e a r riv a l of Mr. M o rg e n th a u s successor. D r. B o n zo n is also e n title d to o u r d e e p e st
g ra titu d e for h is in te llig e n t a ssista n c e a n d t h e k ee n a n d p ra c tic a l in te re st w ith w h ic h h e w o rk e d
for th e e s ta b lis h m e n t of t h e refugees.
Since D e c e m b e r 23rd, 1924, M. J a c q u e s D a m a la h a s b ee n a c tin g as tr e a s u r e r in place of
M. E. D e lta , w h o h a s ta k e n tw o m o n th s leave.

N eed for Assistance.

In th e foregoing p ag es we h a v e g iv e n a n a c c o u n t of th e p ro g ress m a d e in th e w o rk of colo ni
sation a n d of t h e a d v a n ta g e s co n ferred th e r e b y u p o n th e refugees th em se lv e s a n d u p o n th e c o u n try
which b en e fits b y th e p r o d u c tiv e w o rk of th o s e w ho h a v e be e n able t o find e m p lo y m e n t. So far
we h a v e c o n sid ered t h e p o sitio n o n ly fr o m t h e econom ic p o in t of view , i.e., t h a t of t h e p ro d u c tiv ity
of th e w o rk e n tr u s te d to th e S e ttle m e n t C om m ission. A lth o u g h in th is re sp ec t o p tim ism is
justified, we m u s t n e v e rth e le ss to u c h u p o n t h e d a r k side of th e pro b lem . T h e re still re m a in a
large n u m b e r of refugees re q u irin g relief. T h e Com m ission, w h ich is b o u n d b y th e P ro to c o l to
keep s tric tly w ith in its assigned lim its a n d t o use t h e fu n d s e n tru s te d to it on ly fo r econom ic a n d
essentially p r o d u c tiv e w ork, is n o t able t o d e v o te itself to h u m a n ita r ia n qu estio n s a n d to e n d e a v o u r
to relieve th e d istre ss of th o u s a n d s of u n f o r tu n a te people.
In th e first p lace, as we h a v e p o in te d o u t, h e a lth co n d itio n s a re n o t s a tisfa c to ry , especially
in th e n o r th e r n p ro v in ce s of G reece, w h ere m a la r ia is p a rtic u la rly p re v a le n t. B u t th is is n o t all.
A large n u m b e r of t h e refugees, u r b a n as w ell as a g ric u ltu ra l, w ho a re n o t y e t se ttle d , or n o t
p e rm a n e n tly se ttle d , are in a v e i y p re c a rio u s position. T h ose w ho h a d som e m e a n s left h a v e
now come to th e e n d of th e ir re so u rc e s a n d w o rk w h e n th e o p p o r tu n ity p re s e n ts itself, b u t arc
never su re of t h e m o rro w ; m o st of t h e m la c k n o t o n ly re g u la r sh e lte r b u t also clo th in g , a n d th e ir
food is g e n e ra lly of th e p oorest. T h e p r o p o r tio n of w idow s a n d o rp h a n s, m o re o v e r, is v e ry large.
F rom th e h u m a n ita r ia n a n d social p o in t of view , th is is a v e ry d isq u ie tin g s itu a tio n , w h ich th e
State, a lre a d y faced w ith h e a v y b u rd e n s , is n o t in a p o sitio n to relieve. T h e efforts of th e G reek
charitable asso ciatio n s, h o w e v e r p r a is e w o r th y th e y m a y be, are n o t sufficient to relieve so m u c h
distress. I t is, th e refo re , t h e m o re to b e d e p lo re d t h a t foreign p h ila n th ro p ic societies, w h ich a t
the m o m e n t of th e c a ta s tr o p h e in A sia M inor h a d so generou sly com e to th e a ssistan ce of Greece,
have n o t b e e n able t o e x te n d th e ir w o rk w h ic h d id so m u ch fo r th e m o ra l a n d m a te r ia l relief of
those cruelly s tr ic k e n p o p u la tio n s.
I t w ould b e e x tre m e ly d e sirab le t h a t fo reig n c h a rita b le asso ciations sh o u ld once ag ain be
induced to in te re s t th e m se lv e s in th e fa te of th e se u n f o r tu n a te p eople a n d m a k e on th e ir b e h a lf
one of th o se c o n c e rte d efforts of in te r n a tio n a l m u tu a l a ssista n c e w h ich are a c re d it to o u r epoch.

(S ig n e d ) C harles P . H o w l a n d ,
C h a irm a n .