Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, The Far East, Volume V

711.94114A/10–2344: Telegram

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

Bern, October 23, 1944.
[Received October 23—11:15 p.m.]

7021. American Interests, Far East. Legation’s airgram 484, August 16.⁸² Foreign Office note October 19 states according Japanese Foreign Office beriberi cases do not exceed 1% POWs Japan and barely exceed 2% POWs Thailand and Burma, View action taken these figures tend decline.

Japanese Foreign Office adds notwithstanding present difficulties, POWs continue receive food equal quantity and quality Japanese base troops and this food even superior that of Japanese civilians.

Harrison

82. Not printed; it reported that the Swiss Legation in Tokyo had invited the attention of the Japanese Government to the fact that many POWs were dying of beriberi because their diet of polished rice had insufficient vitamins and that the Swiss Legation had been informed by the Japanese Foreign Office that rations accorded POWs had been minutely studied and, as a result, unhusked rice and concentrated vitamins were now being provided (711.94114A/8–1644).