Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Page 205
NANSEN AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS 195
most unbelievable that there were a number of people who loathed
the Soviet Government to such an extent that they resented any
attempt to help its subjects even though they were innocent women
and children. Nansen was very far from being a Bolshevist; but
he did not let his political opinions interfere with a work of
charity. Indeed, he spoke well of the Russian Ministers, though
he found it add to his exertions that the normal time for inter-
viewing the Foreign Minister in Moscow was about midnight!
He had scarcely returned from Russia when a fresh call came
to him so urgent that he felt bound to respond to it though the
Russian enterprise was far from complete. The new complication
arose in this way: It will be remembered that after the Peace,
the Greeks marched into Asia Minor. For a time all went well
with them. Then the Turks turned and drove the Greek army
into the sea. Not content with this, the Turkish Government de-
cided to exile from their territories all Greek and other non-
Turkish individuals. At the time, Europe exclaimed at the bar-
barity of the proceedings. They have, alas!, become only too
common since then. But, as in later times, the mass-exile created
grave international difficulties. There was over a million of them
— men, women and children. Where were they to go? Nansen
set to work. He negotiated with the Turks and with the Greeks.
He laid the case before the League and it gave him such help as
was possible. Ultimately the whole number, though not without
terrible hardships, were settled in Greek lands and have become,
I believe, among the most valuable of the Greek population. Cer-
tainly the Greek Government deserves every creait for the courage
and intelligence with which they coped with this staggering emer-
gency. But they would be, I believe, the first to admit that it was
Nansen’s energy and initiative which made their success possible.
Then there was the case of the Armenians: the people who
perhaps suffered most, and most undeservedly, from the Great
War and its after effects. To save the remnants of these sufferers,
Nansen expended vast energy. He was no longer a young man
and the hardships he went through probably shortened his life.
Nor were his efforts in this instance altogether successful, though
in fact the surviving Armenians are in relative peace and happi-
ness under the Soviet Government.
Beyond these special humanitarian achievements, Nansen de-
voted much attention to the Mandate system. By his vigilance
the Assembly constantly exercised supervision over the operations