701.0090/1867
The Department of State to the Spanish Embassy
The Department of State acknowledges receipt of the memorandum no. 228, Ex. 108.03, of August 20, 1943 from the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in continental United States transmitting the reply dated August 20, 1943 of the Japanese Government to the Department’s memorandum of July 27 concerning the embarkation on the Gripsholm of Japanese nationals who are not in good health.
In conformity with the request of the Japanese Government, Japanese nationals who are ill but nevertheless able to travel will be embarked on the Gripsholm. Those who are not able to travel will be allowed to remain in the United States pending a subsequent exchange. If any of them nevertheless insist on traveling on their own responsibility, they will be required to sign a document to that effect, a copy of which will be furnished the Spanish Embassy in order that it may, if it desires, verify the circumstances.
The Department will see to it that for each ill Japanese embarked on the M. S. Gripsholm there is delivered to the Spanish representative on the pier at New York a detailed statement indicating name, sex, age and nature of illness. As the Japanese exchange vessel will not [Page 911] leave the Far East until two weeks or more after the Gripsholm leaves New York, there will be ample time to transmit this information by telegraph to Tokyo and to permit the Japanese Government to take necessary steps to care for the proper accommodation on the Japanese exchange vessel of these ill persons.
The United States Government will have on the Gripsholm three doctors and nine nurses to care for the Japanese repatriates who may not be well.
It is requested that this information be promptly communicated to the Japanese Government.