Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

740.00115A Pacific War/482: Airgram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)

Washington, July 20, 1943.

A–259. American interests—Japan. Legation’s despatches 5159 and 5167 of May 28, 5170 of May 29, and 5187 of May 31.⁷⁸

1. Department has noted that Swiss Legation, Tokyo will make representations to the Japanese Foreign Office with a view to obtaining improvement in the lodging, food, and clothing at these camps. It is also noted that conditions at Camps 3 and 4 are not nearly as good as in the other two camps. Request Swiss authorities particularly to press the Japanese to raise the standard of treatment at Camps 3 and 4.

2. Were dollars converted to yen with the consent of the internees?

3. See Department’s 756 of May [March] 26 concerning mail.

4. Swiss should continue to request that they be allowed to interview internees without witnesses being present as is provided in Article 86 of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention. Spanish are permitted to interview Japanese internees and prisoners of war in this country without witnesses.

5. Canteens should be established in accordance with the obligation assumed by the Japanese Government under Article 12, Geneva Convention.

Hull

78. None printed; these despatches transmitted reports on visits by a delegate of the Swiss Legation in Japan to four civilian internee camps at Kobe.