390.1115A/922: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 26—9:13 a.m.]
2963. Exchange vessels Asama Maru and Conte Verde. Your 1615, June 20. Swiss Foreign Office telephones following telegram received from Swiss Legation Tokyo.
“About 15 minutes after my telephone with Bern, Gaimusho informed me that the military authorities were confident that I would succeed with the help of my Government in settling the last difficulties with the American Government. In order to lose no time they gave orders to the commander of the Asama Maru to sail after midnight. Asama Maru actually sailed on Thursday June 25 at 1:35 a.m. I communicated your telegram June 24,58 relating to itinerary of Asama Maru and Conte Verde sent at the request of Japanese Legation Bern (this telegram likewise sent to Governments of Great Britain, Egypt and Australia), to Gaimusho which received it with greatest satisfaction. Conte Verde will sail from Shanghai on June 29 probably in the afternoon. I confirm: Primo: Gaimusho made all reservations for possible protests to Washington in case all Japanese whose repatriation has been demanded were not on board the Gripsholm. Telegrams received from Madrid are so mutilated that Gaimusho was unable to check accurately the number of passengers on Gripsholm, Secundo: Gaimusho cannot understand why the capacity of Gripsholm is now indicated as 1500 passengers and not 1585 as has been announced before.
Gaimusho wishes to receive an explanation in this regard as Japanese Government endeavored to repatriate on Asama Maru and Conte Verde a number of passengers as near as possible to figure previously indicated.”
Swiss Foreign Office adds that the itinerary of the vessel referred to previously as having been communicated to London, Cairo and Canberra is as follows, although it would appear possible, since Asama Maru only sailed early hours June 25 Tokyo time, that there may be some minor revisions necessary.
“Depart Yokohama June 24 PM, arrive Hong Kong June 29 AM, leave Hong Kong June 30 AM, arrive Saigon July 3 AM, leave Saigon July 4 PM, arrive near Shonan Ko July 6 PM, leave Shonan Ko July 9 PM arrive Lourenço Marques July 22 PM, depart Lourenço Marques July 25 PM, arrive near Shonan Ko August 8 AM, depart Shonan Ko August 10 AM, arrive Yokohama August 17 AM. Conte Verde due depart Shanghai June 29 PM, arrive near Shonan Ko July 5 PM. Remainder of voyage identical with Asama Maru.”
Repeated Lisbon, Madrid and Vichy.
- In despatch No. 2728, June 29, 1942, from the Minister in Switzerland, it is indicated that the reference to Foreign Office’s telegram of June 24 to Tokyo concerned solely the Department’s telegram No. 1615, June 20, to the Legation, p. 434, and that this information was being communicated to the Department so that the Department’s records would be complete and accurate on this subject (390.1115A/986).↩