393.1121/108: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland ( Huddle )

283. American interests—Far East. Your 286, January 28.27 Please request Swiss Government to draw attention of Japanese Government to assurance contained in Department’s 161, January 20 and 219, January 2628 concerning this Government’s intention to facilitate visits by representatives of protecting power and of International Committee of Red Cross to Japanese nationals who may be temporarily detained, interned or under parole as well as to their places of detention or internment.

Swiss Government should also be requested again to draw to attention of Japanese Government intention of United States Government as communicated to you in Department’s 331, December 18 and again referred to in last paragraph of Department’s 86, January 13, to apply the provisions of the Geneva Prisoner of War Convention to any civilian enemy aliens who may be interned to the fullest extent that the provisions of that Convention may be adaptable thereto, and to inform Japanese Government that should Japanese authorities continue to refuse to give any information concerning American citizens held by them in Shanghai to Swiss official representatives in that place and continue to refuse permission for these representatives to visit the Americans held there, Japanese Government cannot expect United States Government to continue its liberal treatment of Japanese civilians interned or detained on American territory.

Same considerations apply equally to American citizens held elsewhere by Japanese authorities, but situation at Shanghai appears to be particularly acute.

Please ask Swiss Government to endeavor to expedite a reply concerning situation of Americans in other areas under Japanese control as requested in Department’s 196, January 23, and to report further [Page 796] concerning the situation at Shanghai as soon as there shall have been time for the above representations to be acted upon.

Hull
  1. Not printed; it reported that the Swiss were unable to obtain lists of Americans arrested by the Japanese in Shanghai or information about their treatment, sanitary conditions, detention places, or charges against them.
  2. Concerning telegram No. 219, January 26, see footnote 6, p. 246.