701.9411/1707: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
782. Your 1124, March 19.26 Following communication has been delivered today to Spanish Embassy, Washington:
“The Department of State refers to its memorandum of March 13, 1942 to the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in the continental United States27 in reply to the Embassy’s memorandum no. 93 of February 23 setting forth certain counterproposals of the Japanese Government regarding the forthcoming exchange of Japanese and American officials and non-official nationals.
The United States Government has received through Swiss channels information that the Swiss Legation at Tokyo in charge of American interests received on February 21 from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a communication in the same terms as the Spanish Embassy’s [Page 408] memorandum of February 23 but with the addition of the following paragraph:
‘Japanese Government will demand neither individual declaration nor lists of contents. Japanese Government feel that each trunk, box with handles or handbaggage should be of such size and weight as may be carried by a single person. As to personal effects to be brought away by non-official persons views of Japanese Government coincide with those of United States Government.’
The United States Government notes that the Japanese Government will require of American officials no individual declarations or lists of contents of personal effects to be laden on the exchange vessel. The United States Government had not contemplated applying a limitation regarding the weight of containers for personal effects and will not apply such a limitation if it is assured that the Japanese Government will be guided similarly. Assurance is requested on this point.
As it has now become apparent that space will be available on the exchange vessel leaving the United States for the household effects of the Japanese officials formerly accredited to this country, the United States Government is willing to permit the embarkation on the exchange vessel of such household effects to the extent that these effects are now packed ready for shipment or have been entrusted to responsible forwarding agents or storage companies capable of preparing them for shipment. If satisfactory assurances are received that the Japanese Government will be similarly guided in respect of the household effects of American official personnel in Japan and elsewhere who are to be returned to the United States on the vessel provided by the Japanese Government, authorization will be given the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in the continental United States to prepare the household effects of the Japanese officials for shipment.
An identical statement is being forwarded to the Japanese Government through the medium of the Swiss Legation at Tokyo in charge of American interests in Japan.”
Text should be transmitted to Japanese Government and to Grew.28
- Not printed; it related information similar to that set forth in the second paragraph of the communication to the Spanish Embassy quoted in this telegram.↩
- See telegram No. 665, March 13, to the Chargé in Switzerland, p. 404.↩
- Joseph C. Grew, Ambassador in Japan prior to outbreak of war, December 7, 1941.↩