Office of the Historian

740.00114A Pacific War/421: Telegram

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

Bern, May 3, 1943.
[Received May 3—9:31 p.m.]

2717. American interests Japan, POW.49 Legation’s 1679, March 13. Legation Tokyo intervened Japanese authorities obtain improvements POW Tokyo camp [and] Japanese Foreign Office added following information that already given.

  • “1. POW seriously ill transferred military hospital. Needed medicaments furnished within limits possibilities. Dental treatment given when possible.
  • 2. Food, clothing furnished POW insofar supplies country permit. Canteen installed each camp.
  • 3. When no obstacle camp commandants authorize POW correspond Swiss representatives and families. Numerous letters already sent except three camps where arrangements not yet made.50
  • 4. Permitted hold religious services condition cause no difficulty.
  • 5. Permitted receive sports equipment, games, food et cetera insofar not disturb good order camp.”
[Page 986]

Swiss Legation adds intervened Japanese authorities obtain transfer to civilian internment camp five workmen from Wake, several officers American Merchant Marine. Japanese Foreign Office replied after inquiry transfer made 30th September 1942.

Japanese authorities desire know if Japanese United States have right send money families Japan. If so Japanese Government disposed examine possibility reciprocal treatment American POW.

Harrison
  1. Prisoners of war.↩
  2. In telegram No. 3469, June 9 (740.00114A Pacific War/499), the Minister in Switzerland reported that the Swiss Legation at Tokyo had received no letters from prisoners of war “until present”. In telegram No. 4316, July 20 (711.94114A/17), he reported statement by the Japanese Foreign Office that “all letters containing nothing contrary regulations of April 21, 1943, concerning treatment POW sendable freely Legation Tokyo”. The text of these regulations was sent to the Department with despatch No. 6029, September 2 (not printed).↩