Office of the Historian

740.00114 European War 1939/3327

The Secretary of State to Mr. Max Huber, President of the International Red Gross Committee67

Washington, May 11, 1943.

My Dear Mr. Huber: I have received your letter of February 26, 1943,68 in which you ask that this Government consider the possibility of approaching the Soviet Government with a view to inducing that Government to grant to the prisoners of war in its power the benefits of the humanitarian provisions analogous to those which have been adopted by other belligerents.69

I fully appreciate the high humanitarian sentiments which have motivated your request. As you know, the Government of the United States, which is a party to and whose representatives assisted in the drafting of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention of 1929,70 has always been actively interested in the universal acceptance and observance of the provisions of that Convention. On various occasions it has suggested to belligerent governments that they reaffirm their intention to apply the Convention, or, in case they are not parties thereto, that they nevertheless observe its provisions, and that such application or observance be extended to cover civilian internees as well as prisoners of war. This Government has, toward that end, approached the Soviet Government.71 The Soviet Government announced its intention reciprocally to observe the provisions of the Fourth Hague Convention of 1907.72 That Convention establishes a general rule of humane conduct toward prisoners, although it is deficient in providing that precise procedure and those guarantees of observance which the Geneva Convention provides. The Soviet Government has not so far come to the conclusion to announce its adherence to the latter Convention. Under these circumstances I hope you will appreciate the inability of this Government to take action as you request, at this time.

Sincerely yours,

Cordell Hull
  1. This letter was sent in care of the American consular officer in charge at Geneva, Switzerland.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. In telegram No. 223, March 30, 2 p.m., the Ambassador in the Soviet Union reported that in reply to his note of March 25 to Molotov in regard to the treatment of prisoners of war, he had been informed that “this question does not interest the Soviet Government at the present time.” (740.00114 European War 1939/3319)↩
  4. Signed July 27, 1929; for text, see Foreign Relations, 1929, vol. i, p. 336, or League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cxviii, p. 343.↩
  5. For correspondence concerning efforts by the United States to persuade the Soviet Union to adhere to the Geneva Convention of 1929, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, pp. 1005 ff.↩
  6. Signed October 18, 1907; for text, see ibid., 1907, pt. 2, p. 1204. or 36 Stat, (pt. 2) 2277.↩