390.1115A/1589: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
1277. American interests—Far East. Legation’s 2980, and 2990, May 15th.59 American policy with regard to internment is outlined in previous telegrams, particularly Department’s 712 of March 19, 1942,60 and Department’s 864, April 8, 1943. Treatment in no case is less favorable than that provided by Geneva Prisoners of War Convention. Because of high standards of housing, diet, clothing, medical care, et cetera, existing in American armed forces, application of Convention insures exceedingly good treatment for internees.
Representatives of Spanish Government have been encouraged to visit all internment camps and relocation centers and to make appropriate reports to Japanese Government. The last visit made was that of a Spanish Consular officer to Santa Fe Internment Camp on April 20, 21, 22. It is assumed that reports of these visits have been forwarded to Tokyo through the Japanese Minister in Madrid or other appropriate channels.
Only Japanese residing on West Coast have been removed to relocation centers. Family members in relocation centers have never been separated and have been permitted to live together as family [Page 990] units. Families where one or both spouses have been interned are now being reunited. This is done by allowing an internee to join his family in a relocation center or bringing all members of the family together in a family internment camp of which there are now two, one at Crystal City, Texas, and the other at Seagoville, Texas.
- Neither printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 804.↩