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

740.00115A Pacific War/52: Telegram

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

Washington, April 3, 1942.

853. American interests—Philippines, treatment American citizens. Your 1031, 13th and 1231, 26th. Please request the Swiss Government to inform the Japanese Government

(1) That the American Government has taken note of the statements of the Japanese Government regarding the treatment accorded American nationals in the Philippines,

(2) That the American Government obtained the information referred to in the Department’s 446 of February 14th from various sources,

(3) That the principal source of disquiet in connection with these reports is the apparent reluctance of the Japanese Government to permit the appointment by the International Red Cross Committee of an appropriate neutral observer to act as the Committee’s delegate in the Philippines, and

(4) That the apparent reluctance of the Japanese Government to permit the appointment of a neutral Red Cross delegate in Hong Kong is also a source of considerable disquiet in connection with reports received from various sources regarding the condition of American citizens at that place.

Please inform the International Red Cross Committee that you are requesting the Swiss Government to make this communication to the Japanese Government, convey to the Committee this Government’s thanks for its efforts in connection with the appointment of a delegate in the Philippines, and ask it to furnish you for transmission to the Department information regarding the present status of the request which this Government understands it has made for Japanese permission to appoint a delegate in Hong Kong.⁹⁴

Welles

94. In telegram No. 885, April 7, to the Minister in Switzerland, the Department requested that the Swiss Government support the International Red Cross Committee in its efforts to obtain Japanese consent to the appointment of an International Red Cross delegate in the Philippines. In No. 1591, June 19, to the Minister in Switzerland, the Department asked what progress had been made in obtaining such an appointment.