390.1115A/86: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 6—3:28 p.m.]
2543. American interests—exchange negotiations. Department’s 1445, June 4. Swiss Legation Tokyo telegraphed June 4 following:
“As difficulties may arise on the subject of reservations on Asama Maru I proposed reserve first and second classes for officials according to rank but not too strictly interpreted. On other hand American Embassy takes entirely different attitude and has allocated cabins according to total number of official passengers and not according to proportion of officials of each country. The result is that of 289 places available in first and second classes 239 are claimed by Americans so that many officials among them career consuls of South American Republics will be placed in third class which would of course result in considerable difference in food. American Embassy also insists in principle all women of American nationality official or non-official be placed in first class.”
Legation has informed Swiss Foreign Office there must be a misunderstanding and has requested it to instruct urgently Swiss Minister Tokyo endeavor to adjust this matter and in particular to see that Chiefs of South American Missions as well as other foreign officials receive accommodations suitable their rank.