701.0090/1768: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:35 p.m.]
4961. American interests Far East exchange. Following memorandum dated August 10 from Japanese Government was sent to Spanish Government Madrid for transmission to Department through Spanish Embassy Washington.
Japanese Legation Bern communicated text to Swiss Government with request transmit informally to the Department as in view of previous delays through Spanish [it] desires avoid loss of time in this case. Text handed Legation officer morning August 14 by official Swiss Foreign Office reads as follows:
“Memorandum August 10, 1943. The communication dated July 27 of the United States Government and attached lists in reply to the memorandum of the Japanese Government dated July 1378 were received during the period extending from afternoon of 6th to morning of 10 August.
- 1.
- Japanese evacuees from the United States and Hawaii mentioned in the communication above together with those mentioned in list attached to American communication dated 24th June (excluding [Page 900] persons transferred from Central and South America) number about 380 in all. Reference to lists of evacuees nominated by the Japanese Government shows that this number comprises 69 out of 150 persons of North American list A5, 49 out of 200 of ditto A2, 19 out of 60 of addition of 15th September 1942 and 47 out of 145 of addition of June 1943. Those who are to be understood to have refused to be repatriated are over 60 percentum of those on designated list and when those on other lists who have refused repatriation are added to this total number of those who have refused repatriation comes to be as large as 3101 but among those persons there are those as previously intimated to the United States Government who have informed their relatives of their intention of returning home [with] wives and families of those who owing to illness or for other reasons were unable to accompany their husbands or fathers who evacuated by first exchange ship or immediately before outbreak of war and many others of whom there is no reason to believe that they have any objection to being repatriated according to information in hands of the Japanese Government. In view of these facts and having in mind possibility of any future exchange the Japanese Government wish to point out that they find it difficult to see correctness of this large number of Japanese subjects being represented as having refused repatriation and make reservation on this point.
- 2.
- According to calculation made by the Japanese Government, in addition to evacuees so far decided there still remains room for about 160 more persons. [Here follow names and addresses of Japanese persons the Japanese Government wished to repatriate.] Any remaining room on board the ship is desired to be utilized for repatriating such persons as may be picked up from priority list (2933 persons from North America) by the Spanish Ambassador (separate communication will be made to him).
- 3.
- The Japanese Government are endeavoring urgently to comply as far as possible with the wishes of the United States Government and other American countries regarding persons to be evacuated from Japan and specified regions under Japanese control. If the United States Government immediately carry out the above mentioned items the Japanese Government agree to the United States proposal to effect the exchange at Marmagão on or about 15th October and will make Teia Maru sail from Yokohama on 15th September so as to reach Marmagão by that date via Shanghai, Hongkong, Manila, Saigon and Syonan (Singapore). Particulars of marking characteristics, schedule and course of ship which are necessary for obtaining safe conduct for her are communicated by separate telegram.79
- 4.
- The Japanese Government wish to be informed by telegraph without delay of the measures taken by the United States Government concerning paragraphs 1 and 2. It is desired that particulars necessary for issuing safe conduct for Gripsholm be communicated through Swiss Minister in Tokyo without delay.”