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

390.1115A/1315: Telegram

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

Washington, December 29, 1942.

2943. American interests—Far East, internees. Your 5702, December 7. Please request Swiss Government urgently to inform Japanese Government of this Government’s concern over the evident inadequacy of support furnished by the Japanese authorities to American nationals interned at Shanghai and elsewhere in occupied China. In view of treatment accorded all Japanese nationals interned in this country (Department’s 712 March 19, 2503 November 9) this Government expects the Japanese Government reciprocally to implement the honorable obligation that the Japanese Government has assumed to apply to civilian internees the adaptable provisions of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention which provides that the detaining power shall supply adequate housing, food, clothing, et cetera.

In event Japanese authorities continue to fail to take sufficient measures and Swiss Government is unable to make relief payments through its own agents, this Government is agreeable to plan of payment similar to that authorized for Hong Kong (Department’s 2646 November 25⁷²), or through resident American associations, provided that terms of Department’s instruction 1202 February 14⁷³ are observed. If it proves necessary to adopt such procedure, Department assumes Swiss Government through its representative at Shanghai and other representatives in occupied China will at regular intervals (probably monthly) pay necessary funds direct to International Red Cross or resident associations which will disburse the funds to individual internees in accordance with the provisions of aforementioned instruction, obtain individual or group receipts and forward receipts to Swiss representatives, who in turn will submit the receipts in support of their accounts covering disbursements from funds for representation of American interests in enemy territory.

Reference last paragraph your 5702, authority to disburse for necessary subsistence sums even exceeding amount recommended by Swiss Consul General Shanghai contained in Department’s 1202 (See Department’s 1695 July 3⁷⁴).

See paragraph 15 of instruction 1202 for authority to obtain group receipts.

Careful separate accounts should be kept of all United States Government funds disbursed to provide to American internees the subsistence, clothing, et cetera, which the Japanese Government, in undertaking to apply the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention, should supply and has the responsibility to provide free to internees.

Request urgent report concerning measures taken.

Hull

72. Not printed; it authorized payment of relief to American nationals in Hong Kong through the International Red Cross (340.1115A/3051a).
73. Ante, p. 262.
74. See footnote 59, p. 825.