Office of the Historian

740.00114 European War 1939/3365: Telegram

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

Bern, May 18, 1943.
[Received May 18—11:14 p.m.]

3046. American interests—Japan, POW salaries. Department’s 2669, November 28th.56 Swiss note May 15 contains Japanese reply given below in summary translation.

In accordance provisions article XVII regulations annexed Hague Convention governing laws, customs, land war,57 Japanese Government grants enemy officer prisoners same salaries Japanese Army officers corresponding grade. Under circumstances Japanese Government does not consider itself obligated modify these salaries. Nevertheless if United States Government should insist, Japanese Government prepared apply modifications it proposed September 1942 (transmitted Legation’s 4414, September 2658). This connection it desires again stress following.

1.
Monthly pay enemy officer prisoners proposed by Japanese was fixed bearing in mind cost subsistence so that this pay sufficient cover cost food, clothing. Not necessary therefore augment salary or additionally furnish prisoners food, garments.
2.
Amount salary paid officer prisoners and method payment will be determined unilaterally by Japanese Government and not on basis reciprocity. American Government will therefore continue pay Japanese officer prisoners in United States their entire salary which will be reimbursed after war by Japanese Government. These measures being taken unilaterally in the two countries, it will not be necessary for American and Japanese Governments to communicate amount sums paid enemy officers their control nor fix exchange rate.
3.
As Japanese Government, granting all British officers (including Dominions), Netherlands salary same as Japanese officers corresponding grade, would have difficulty applying behalf American officers alone proposals it made on this subject September 1942 (Legation’s 4414). Japanese Government therefore leaves to American Government consultation with Governments Great Britain, Dominions, Netherlands to examine whether they desire have sums paid their officer prisoners modified as Japanese authorities have proposed.
Harrison
  1. Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 828.↩
  2. Signed on October 18, 1907, ibid., 1907, pt. 2, p. 1204; 36 Stat. (pt. 2) 2277.↩
  3. Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 823.↩