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

514.2A12/381: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)

Washington, July 21, 1942.

1812. Request Swiss Government to communicate to Japanese Government that this Government having agreed to apply the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention proposes: 1. To comply on a reciprocal basis with Articles 68, 69 and 70 of that convention regarding repatriation of enemy nationals held by it who are seriously sick or injured. 2. To enforce the Model Agreement attached to the Geneva Convention concerning direct repatriation and hospitalization in a neutral country of prisoners of war for reasons of health and 3. That the International Red Cross Committee be requested to nominate neutral members of mixed medical commissions in the United States and Japan.

This Government’s attention has been particularly directed to the case of Private First Class James W. Babb: of the United States Marine Corps, now a prisoner of war at Zentzuji, who is reported by the International Red Cross to have been seriously wounded at Guam on December 8, 1941 necessitating the amputation of the right thigh. If the facts concerning Private Babb are correct he would appear to be eligible for repatriation under the provisions of the Geneva Convention. This Government desires his repatriation as well as that of any other seriously sick and wounded American prisoners of war who may be qualified for repatriation under the provisions of the Geneva Convention and for whom a way for repatriation exists as a result of arrangements made for the reciprocal repatriation of civilians from the United States and Japan. This Government on its part would be willing to repatriate any seriously sick and wounded Japanese prisoners of war who may come into its hands and who can be repatriated in the same way.

This Government will look forward to an expression of the attitude of the Japanese Government in this connection.⁴⁸

Hull

48. In telegram No. 2323, October 6, to the Minister in Switzerland, the Department requested that the Swiss Government endeavor to obtain expedition of a reply to the proposals set forth in its telegram No. 1812. A similar request was made in telegram No. 2750, December 5, to the Minister in Switzerland.