701.9411/1690b: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)
604. American interests—Far East. Following document dated February 23 has been received from Spanish Embassy:23
“In answer to the proposition dated February 5th24 of the United States Government, the Japanese Imperial Government’s point of view is as follows:
‘The Japanese Government are glad to learn that an agreement has practically been reached in the matter of the exchange of Japanese and American officials and other personnel, however, they desire to make the following observations in order to avoid misunderstanding Part I.
Persons to be included in the exchange:
- (1)
- The Japanese Government note that the United States Government are agreeable to the inclusion in exchange of all official persons referred to [in] 1 (b) of their Basic Proposal in addition to all the official personnel referred to in 1 (a) of the same proposal.
- (2)
- The Japanese Government are ready to afford cooperation to the Thai and French Authorities in providing facilities for transportation to the United States as part of the present exchange of American officials with their dependent staffs and personal effects who are in Thailand and French Indochina.
- (3)
- As regards the repatriation of non-official persons, the Japanese Government consider essential that both Governments should select vessels without delay to accommodate such persons who cannot be accommodated on the first exchange vessel so that all persons concerned would be repatriated within reasonably short space of time. They appreciate concurrence of the United States Government in this matter.
- (4)
- The Japanese Government further propose that priority among non official persons, including press representatives, for accommodation on the exchange vessels should be decided upon by agreement between governments concerned. The Japanese Government agree in compliance with the request of the United States Government [Page 402] that the American official personnel as well as non official persons-at Hong Kong be included in the exchange.
- (5)
- The Japanese Government gather that the United States Government do not insist on inclusion of the Marine Guards in China in the present exchange.
- (6)
- The Japanese Government are unable to concur in with the view of the United States Government to the effect that complications will ensue if some of the official personnel are permitted to proceed directly to their new post in neutral countries, they therefore desire that the United States Government will reconsider the matter.
- (7)
- Regarding certain Japanese diplomatic and consular officials formerly accredited in some Latin American countries who have declined to accept the offer of facilities for journey to the United States the Japanese Government desire to make it clear to the United States Government that they have done so under instructions from the Japanese Government since agreement has now been practically reached in the matter of the exchange they will be instructed to leave their former post, in this connection the Japanese Government desire that as some of these officials are ordered to proceed to their new post, the United States Government will not place obstacle in their taking-up post elsewhere.
- (8)
- The Japanese Government understand that Japanese non official persons belonging to the category mentioned first (b) of their basic proposal and residing in countries in the Americas, including Canada, which have broken relations with Japan, be embarked on the exchange vessel. The Japanese Government on their part will embark such non official nationals of these American countries, residing in Japan, Manchukuo, China, etc. part local and method of exchange (1). The Japanese Government being agreeable to the proposition of the United States Government that the Portuguese Government shall be requested to act as guarantor, of the execution of the exchange at Lourenço Marques, will address a request in this sense to the Portuguese Government. As suggested 2 concerning method of marking vessel, the Japanese Government agree to the proposition of the United States Government. They are further agreeable to the desire of the United States Government regarding the speed of the vessel. Part Third, provision of facilities 1, as regards the amount of money allowed to be taken out by persons to be included in the exchange, the Japanese Government propose that up to 1000 (one thousand) yen or its equivalent be allowed to each adult person to meet the needs on the vessel until the arrival at the place of exchange. The Japanese Government agree to the proposition of the United States Government concerning personal effects viz officials to be exchanged and their-dependents, their servants and employees, shall be permitted to take with them all their personal effects including such things as silverware, linen and the like which can be packed in trunks, boxes with handles and handbaggage. Such effects will not be subject to search and tax of duty, nor subject to any limitations other than those imposed by availability of space in the vessel and the arrival of the effects at the port of embarkation in time to be laden aboard the vessel.’”
The foregoing text contains certain apparent mutilations presumably caused by difficulty in telegraphic transmission. It has, further [Page 403] more, been noted that Japanese communications as received through Swiss and Spanish channels occasionally differ in small points. Department accordingly requests that Swiss Minister at Tokyo be asked to transmit to Swiss Foreign Office text of communication which he received from Japanese Foreign Office in order that the foregoing may be compared therewith by you and the Department promptly informed of any variations or of any corrections which should be made.
The text of the reply to be made to the foregoing will be telegraphed to you on the day that it is delivered to the Spanish Embassy.