Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

740.00114 European War 1939/2108: Telegram

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

Washington , February 9, 1942.

436. Department’s 376, February 7th. Department has learned from message 497 from American Red Cross representative at London²⁹ that according to British Red Cross report the Japanese have agreed to observe temporarily the terms of the Prisoner of War Convention in the treatment of British Empire prisoners and to take into account reciprocally national and racial food and clothing customs.

Please request the Swiss Government to inform the Japanese Government that this Government will take into account the racial and national customs of Japanese prisoners of war and civilian internees in the application of Articles 11 and 12 of the Geneva Convention which relate to food and clothing and expects that the Japanese Government will follow the same policy in the application of these Articles to American prisoners of war and civilian internees in its hands.³⁰

Hull

29. Copy not found in Department files.
30. In telegram No. 992, March 11, the Chargé in Switzerland reported that the “Japanese Government intends take into account national and racial customs American prisoners of war and civilian internees under its authority as much as possible regarding food and clothing to be distributed to them.” (740.00114A Pacific War/14)