As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, we are honored to present to you a historical document of our collection from those dark days for Hellenism. It is an autographed full-page letter of Eleftherios Venizelos (1864-1936), signed on October 24, 1922. With this letter, E. Venizelos requests humanitarian aid from an eminent American diplomat. The style of his writing reflects the criticality of the situation and the necessity of sending help urgently. The recipient, John Hays Hammond (1855-1936), was a successful American engineer, diplomat, philanthropist and close friend of President William Howard Taft. Hammond was appointed US ambassador special and chairman of the Coal Commission in 1922.
“My dear Mr. Hammond, Continue reading “Autograph letter signed by E. Venizelos requesting humanitarian aid from an eminent American diplomat”