711.94114A/11–2344: Telegram
The Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 24—4:04 a.m.]
7704. Am[erican] Interests, Far East. Legation’s 4885, July 29. Foreign Office note November 15 states Swiss Legation, Tokyo, reports Japanese Foreign Office has replied to Swiss Legation’s representations that competent authorities have been informed of Swiss Legation’s request that all POWs Japanese hands be informed of their right to correspond with protecting Power. Japanese Foreign Office points out, however, that it is not its responsibility to see that POWs write to Swiss Legation for POWs must already know they have that right but their correspondence is limited.
Swiss Legation informed Japanese Foreign Office that it was not question of having POWs write protecting Power but only inform them that they might do so. Swiss Legation therefore endeavoring send circular this subject to all POW camps.