740.00115 PW/8–745

The Acting Secretary of State to the Swedish Minister (Boström)

The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to the Honorable the Minister of Sweden in charge of Japanese interests in the Territory of Hawaii and refers to the Minister’s note dated January 25, 1945, transmitting a renewed protest from the Japanese Government concerning the treatment of Japanese civilians interned in the Territory of Hawaii and the conditions of transport of Japanese nationals from Hawaii to the continental United States.

The Government of the United States points out that the Japanese Government’s protest is a repetition of complaints that have been transmitted previously to the American Government which were the subject of the Department’s communications of March 25, 1944, and July 21, 1944, to the Legation.20

The preparation of these communications was preceded by an exhaustive investigation, lasting over a period of many months, regarding the treatment of Japanese nationals in the Territory of Hawaii after the outbreak of hostilities and regarding the conditions under which Japanese nationals were transported to the continental United States. As the Legation was informed, the investigation indicated that Japanese nationals were humanely and considerately treated.

There is enclosed a memorandum21 which refers to a memorandum dated May 11, 1944, from the Spanish Embassy22 then in charge of Japanese interests in the continental United States. The Legation will note that the memorandum refers in part to the treatment of Japanese nationals in the Territory of Hawaii. It is thought that this memorandum and the information furnished the Legation in the Department’s communications of March 25, 1944, and July 21, 1944, [Page 436] may be considered a full reply to the statement of the Japanese Government transmitted under cover of the Legation’s communication under reference.

It would be appreciated if the Minister of Sweden would cause the enclosed memorandum to be transmitted to the Japanese Government since the Spanish Embassy no longer represents Japanese interests in the continental United States and is not in a position, therefore, to forward the memorandum to the Japanese Government.

  1. Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, pp. 1106 and 1115, respectively.
  2. Dated August 7, p. 363.
  3. Memorandum J–96, Ex. 119.01, not printed; but see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, p. 942, footnote 32.