740.00114 Pacific War/32
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Memorandum
The Department of State refers to the British Embassy’s memorandum of March 2, 1942 regarding the treatment accorded to British prisoners of war in Japanese hands.
The American Government is making effort through every agency at its disposition to obtain accurate information regarding the treatment of American nationals in Japanese hands. From information thus far received through the Swiss Government and the International Red Cross it appears that the treatment accorded to Americans held as prisoners of war or civilian internees in Japan and in [Page 803] territory under Japanese control at the time of the outbreak of war between the United States of America and Japan has been such as not to give cause for alarm. On the contrary this information indicates that the Japanese Government is conforming to its undertaking to apply upon a basis of reciprocity the provisions of the Prisoners of War Convention of 1929 to American prisoners of war and, in so far as they are adaptable, to American civilians detained or interned by the Japanese authorities.
The Department of State has received a report of a visit paid by representatives of the Swiss Legation in Japan to a camp for American prisoners of war at Zentuji, Kagawa, which states that the Swiss representative interviewed the senior American officer at the camp without witnesses and that this officer reported that the prisoners are well treated. The Department has, furthermore, been informed through Swiss Government agencies that non-interned Americans in Japan state that their situation is good. These agencies have reported that the treatment of Americans at Shanghai is good and that they see no cause for alarm regarding the situation of Americans at Hankow. They have reported no disquieting information from other points in China which were under Japanese occupation prior to December 7, 1941. They are, as the British Government is aware, unable to report regarding conditions at Hong Kong.
Disquieting reports regarding conditions at Hong Kong and in the Philippine Islands have reached the United States from various unofficial sources and from sources outside of the areas to which the reports relate. The Government of the United States has requested the Swiss Government to draw the attention of the Japanese Government to these reports and to insist upon reciprocity for the moderate treatment being accorded the Japanese in the United States. The Swiss Government has been requested to inform the Japanese Government at the same time that in the absence of assurances that like moderate treatment will be accorded to Americans in Japanese hands, it will be necessary for the Government of the United States to reexamine its policy of according to Japanese nationals on its territory the most liberal treatment consistent with the national safety.
The Government of the United States is also making arrangements with the Japanese Government for the transmission of relief and has solicited the assistance of the American and the International Red Cross, both in the furnishing of relief and in the obtaining of information with regard to the whereabouts and welfare of Americans in districts under Japanese control from which the representatives of the protecting power have been excluded. In connection with this action it has urged the International Red Cross Committee to expedite the appointment of delegates in the Philippines and in areas under Japanese occupation in China. The American Red Cross is understood [Page 804] to be already in communication with the Australian Red Cross regarding cooperation between the two organizations in the furnishing of relief to civilian internees and prisoners of war in Japanese hands.