701.9411/1698a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland ( Huddle )

624. American interests—Far East. Department’s 604 March 5. In partial answer to the memorandum dated February 23 from the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in continental United States, Department has made following reply dated March 3:

“The Department of State refers to Item 8 of its memorandum of February 5, 1942 to the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in continental United States, comprising the comments of the United States Government upon certain counter proposals made by the Japanese Government in the matter of the exchange of official personnel and non-official nationals. Reference is likewise made to the penultimate sentence of the Spanish Embassy’s memorandum no. 93 of February 23, 1942 regarding the proposal of the Japanese Government that the persons departing be permitted to carry with them up to 1000 yen or its equivalent.

It is agreed that the various persons to be embarked in the United States and in Japan and Japanese-occupied territory on the exchange vessels shall be authorized to take with them funds in an amount up to 1000 yen or its equivalent. So far as there may be Japanese currency available in the United States departing Japanese officials and nationals will be given facilities to take with them such proportionate amount in yen as they may desire. The dollar equivalent of 1000 yen will for this particular purpose be considered to be $300. It is expected that the Japanese Government will similarly afford the American nationals departing from Japan the facility or taking with them such part of their funds as they may desire in United States currency.

With respect to American officials and nationals who may proceed to Japan or Japanese-controlled territory from French Indochina or Thailand for the purpose of embarkation on the exchange vessel, it is expected that the Japanese Government will authorize the exportation of all funds of whatever character which these persons may be bringing with them with the permission of the authorities in the place [Page 404] from which they departed. The United States Government similarly will permit Japanese officials and nationals arriving in this country from other American countries to take with them the funds which they have brought here.”

Please request the Swiss Government to transmit the substance of the above quoted memorandum to the Swiss Minister at Tokyo for his information.

Welles