390.1115a/866: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 9—9:50 a.m.]
2589. American interests—exchange negotiations. Legation’s 2543, June 6. Swiss Legation, Tokyo telegraphed June 6 following message which Ambassador Grew desires be given to Secretary State, Washington:
“Faced with the very difficult and complicated problem of arranging accommodation on the Asama Maru for both Americans and foreigners we have tried to solve this problem in accordance with American traditions and for the greatest good of the greatest number. The Asama Maru carries 839 permanent berths of which 235 are first class and 90 second class. The Japanese propose to place in one of the public rooms of the third class, 51 temporary berths, so that the total passenger complement will be 890. The Japanese Foreign Office has left to the Swiss Minister final responsibility for the allocation of berths to all national groups in view of the fact that the costs of evacuation from the Western Hemisphere will be allocated among the various American nations in proportion to the number of their respective nationals evacuated from the Far East. We have proposed to the Swiss Minister that the berths in the first, second and third classes be allocated to each national group in accordance with the ratio between the number of each national group and the total number of persons to be evacuated. United States nationals would comprise more than 90 per cent of the total, but to accommodate non-United States officials, we have allocated only 85 per cent of the berths in the first and second classes to United States nationals. Our plan contemplates the assignment of all United States women and children about 250 in number to first and second class cabins and we are conceding from the berths which would be allocated to United States men a sufficient number of cabins to accommodate in first and second class all the women of the other national groups. There would be left for the accommodation of United States males 22 berths in first and second class after accommodating the first and second classes, elderly and indisposed United States males. All our United States official personnel from and including the rank of First Secretary down, would be assigned to the third class under our plan which required that every berth in each cabin shall accommodate one person. We have allocated one-berth cabins, each with private bath, to each unmarried foreign Chief of Mission, two-berths cabins, each with private baths to foreign Chief of Mission with wives, and we have accommodated children of diplomats in other first and second class cabins. The Panamanian Minister, his wife (who is bedridden with heart trouble), and two children have been allotted a suite with five berths. Those foreign officials to be accommodated in the third class would consist exclusively of the following: Peru, 2 Consuls; Chile, 1 Consul and 1 Chancellor; Mexico, 1 Chancellor; Brazil, 1 clerk; Paraguay, 1 Consul; Canada, 2 Second Secretaries, 1 Commercial Secretary, 1 Immigration Commissioner and 1 Trade Commissioner. The diplomatic representatives of Brazil, Mexico and Peru have informed the Swiss Minister that they cannot accept our plan of allotment of space. The [Page 429] Peruvian Minister and wife were assigned a cabin with one bed and a sofa bed and he complains that the cabin would be too small for comfortable travel over a long voyage. The Mexican Minister and his wife similarly accommodated also complain that the cabin is too small. Both these Ministers are demanding three-berth cabins. If their demand were complied with, two additional United States males would be obliged to travel third class. In view of the fact that the Swedish and Portuguese Ministers said to the Swiss Minister that they cannot accept our plan for their various protégés, I feel that there is no alternative to our requesting from the Department of State, instructions which will enable us to determine our course in this problem, involving potentialities of serious friction and general bad feeling. I am not inclined, without specific instructions from you, to recede in any respect from the logical and reasonable position that we have taken. I cannot subscribe to any exaggerated and untimely concept of diplomatic privilege which under the conditions that will face us on board the ship would be contrary to the dictates of humanity. I believe that the American public would support the position that we have taken.”
Department’s attention called to last paragraph Legation’s 2543 in which Swiss Minister requested to endeavor to adjust this matter. Legation’s request telegraphed to Tokyo apparently crossed with above message from Ambassador Grew.