740.00115 Pacific War/422
The British Ambassador (Halifax) to the Acting Secretary of State
My Dear Welles: As you know, our authorities are very concerned at the moment over the position of our prisoners of war in the Far East and urgent consideration is being given in London to the formulation of a long term policy for dealing with prisoners in the South West Pacific. We will, of course, keep the State Department informed of any information as to London’s views on this question as soon as it is available to us. In the meantime we are very grateful for your two memoranda of March 14th and 17th,39 the first setting forth information which you have so far received regarding American prisoners and the action taken as a result, and the second informing us that the proposal regarding the shipment of relief supplies for Hong Kong from this country had been referred to the American Red Cross with an indication of the support of the United States Government. The substance of these communications has been reported to the Foreign Office who will, I am sure, be highly appreciative of the action taken.
I notice that there is one point to which no specific reference is made in the two memoranda, namely the enquiry made in the third paragraph of my aide-mémoire of March 2nd as to whether the American authorities considered that joint action on the part of the United States Government and the British Government on behalf of their prisoners of war would be desirable and, if so, whether such action should be extended to the organization of measures of relief. I hope [Page 806] that the fact that this point is not taken up directly in the memoranda does not mean that the United States Government are not in favour of the closest possible collaboration in such matters. The assistance already given by the Department would seem to show that this is not the case, but I know that the British authorities would welcome any observations the United States Government may wish to make on this whole question. As I have already mentioned, proposals for a long term policy in regard to prisoners of war in the South West Pacific are at present under urgent consideration in London. Until I receive further information it is difficult for me to put forward specific suggestions as to the form which collaboration might take. However, I imagine that our programme would necessarily contemplate frequent exchanges of views between our two Governments with a view to concerted action in dealing with the Japanese and agreed measures of publicity, both sides abstaining, as far as possible, from taking any action as regards the Japanese or publishing any important statements without first consulting the other. It would also no doubt be desirable that there should be a full exchange between the American and British authorities of all information reaching them regarding Allied nationals in Japanese controlled territories, their treatment by the Japanese authorities, conditions at prisoner of war and civilian internment camps and similar matters. Some machinery would probably have to be devised to provide a suitable channel for, consultation and it might I daresay be found useful to set up a special committee of some kind in London or Washington for this purpose.
I imagine these to be the general lines on which our authorities would hope to operate, but as I say they would, I am sure, be glad of any comments or suggestions which the American authorities may desire to make. As you know, our main efforts at the moment are devoted to inducing the Japanese Government to apply the provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1929 to military personnel and civilians in the occupied territories, as they undertook to do at the outset of the hostilities, and I understand that your authorities are equally anxious to see that the Convention is fully applied. At present there are in the occupied territories, to name British personnel alone, no less than 150,000 troops and civilians of whom no information has been received up to the present.
I should perhaps add with reference to the last paragraph of my aide-mémoire of March 2nd that the Netherlands Government have stated that they are in favour of the closest cooperation in these matters.
Very truly,
- Memorandum of March 17 not printed.↩