Office of the Historian

390.1115A/1097: Telegram

The Consul at Lourenço Marques (Preston) to the Secretary of State

Lourenço Marques, August 28, 1942—4 p.m.
[Received 10 p.m.]

247. Referring to the Department’s telegram No. 160, 3 p.m., since airmail takes from 1 month to 6 weeks from Lourenço Marques to the United States believe it to be advisable to report briefly by cable.

1.
Japanese aboard SS Gripsholm had official committee with absolute control over passengers. Portuguese delegate informs me that this committee was in radio communication with Japanese vessels and that during westward voyages Japanese ships berthing by Japanese pursers was completed before arrival so that cabins could be allocated as passengers boarded vessels.
2.
MacGowan, Nicol from time of arrival worked intensely preparing practical details for exchange operations which are now being used as basis for British exchange.
3.
MacGowan berthed Gripsholm prior to arrival of vessel except officials.
4.
After arrival Gripsholm lack of shore accommodations it was found that 1,558 required berths as against approximately 1,450 berths available, advance lists did not indicate sex of all passengers, relationship, or age; official Canadian list incomplete; extensive and hourly increasing sick list required reberthing. All this contributed to render preparatory berthing work of MacGowan useless, notable complications combining two distinct passenger groups into one ship made it extremely difficult long arduous operation with resultant hardship to passengers awaiting allocation.
5.
After official exchange completed requiring debarkation and embarkation simultaneously it necessitated incoming passengers Gripsholm confined to public rooms, decks due to necessity clean cabin section.
6.
Believe critics in comparing with Japanese should consider Japanese had much simpler problem transferring to two large ships neither of which was overcrowded. Strongly recommend that not [Page 443] more than 1200 persons should be permitted Gripsholm second exchange thus assuring more comfort for passengers and greatly [facilitating?] berthing problem.

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8.
A full report with recommendations in detail is being mailed by most expeditious route.63
Preston
  1. Not printed.↩