Office of the Historian

740.00114 European War 1939/2593: Telegram

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

Bern, September 26, 1942.
[Received September 26—9:30 p.m.]

4414. American interests—Japan, prisoners’ salaries. Department’s 1112, May 1, 1942.56 July 27 [sic] Swiss Legation, Tokyo, telegraphs September 23, following reply to American proposals from Japanese Government:

“According provisions Prisoners War Convention, Japanese Government will give enemy officers prisoners war in Japanese hands same salaries as to officers of corresponding grades in Japanese Army. No objection, however, modifying these salaries as follows:

1.
American officer prisoners war Japan will themselves pay cost, food, clothing, and ordinary needs.
2.
Monthly pay American prisoners to be fixed as follows:
a.
First and Second Lieutenants, Warrant Officers (French—Lieutenants, Sous Lieutenants, Adjutants, Enseigne de Vaisseau, Deuxième Classe Maitres Principaux) and similar grades 60 yen.
b.
Captains, Naval Lieutenants, (French—Capitaines, Lieutenants de Vaisseau) and similar grades 100 yen.
Lowest salary namely 60 yen sufficient cover cost food, clothing, and ordinary needs leaving balance for pocket money.
3.
Methods payment will be same as for British officers including Canadians, Australians, Netherlands officers and those other enemy countries.
4.
This method payment will be carried out unilaterally by Japanese Government and not on basis reciprocity.
Japanese prisoners war enemy hands will receive their entire salary as in past.
5.
Japanese Government considers sums paid prisoners war by each belligerent power should be reimbursed conclusion war by power in whose service they were.
6.
Japanese Government agrees grant facilities sending money by foreign government to families of officer prisoners living Japan or occupied countries.”

Swiss Legation adds Japanese Government desires early reply.

Harrison
  1. Not printed; it contained the Department’s proposals to the Japanese Government for reciprocal payment of $15, $25, and $35 a month to various categories of officer prisoners of war, or the equivalent in Japanese currency at a rate of four yen to one dollar. These allowances were to be in addition to rations. (740.00114 European War 1939/2152)↩