701.0090/1984a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
Washington, August 25,
1943.
2068. American interests Far East, repatriation. Department desires Swiss delegate on exchange vessel to make following points clear to all persons being repatriated from Far East in American-Japanese exchange:
- 1.
- Upon arrival at Marmagão they will be embarked upon the Gripsholm upon execution of their promissory note for the amount of fare and for an additional deposit of $50 to cover possible incidental expenses. The rate of fare has been fixed at $525 for adults, half fare for children who at the time of embarkation have not yet attained their tenth birthday and quarter fare for infants who have not yet attained their fifth birthday.
- 2.
- From the deposit of $50 for incidental expenses there will be deducted an amount of fifty-three cents per day per person as stewards’ fees. Accordingly the passengers should understand that any amounts which they contribute to the stewards in cash must be considered as additional disbursements on their own responsibility. Such cash payments will not be taken into account in settling the expenses chargeable against the individual passengers.
- 3.
- The Department expects to make available to the passengers against their promissory note United States funds not to exceed $50 per person for minimum necessary expenses aboard the Gripsholm, a maximum of $25 in local currency for necessary expenses ashore at Port Elizabeth and, for passengers continuing to New York, a maximum of $15 in local currency for necessary personal expenses ashore at Rio de Janeiro. Local currency will not be made available at Marmagão for reasons which will be made clear later.
- 4.
- It is not expected that passengers will be granted shore leave at Goa. There are no facilities ashore which passengers could usefully visit.
- 5.
- Department is informed that any letters, including air mail letters, which passengers might attempt to mail at Goa would most probably reach the United States after the arrival of the exchange vessel. It is therefore recommended that passengers await arrival of the vessel at Port Elizabeth before mailing any letters destined for the western hemisphere.
- 6.
- Arrangements will be made if possible in order that passengers having occasion to send urgent messages by telegraph to persons in United States may do so at Marmagão through facilities of American Consulate at Bombay and the Department of State. The cost of such telegrams would be collected from the recipient in the United States or charged against the ship’s account of the passenger as indicated by the sender.
- 7.
- To the extent that mail originating in the United States for the repatriates reaches New York prior to the sailing of the Gripsholm, it will be taken on board that vessel and delivered to the repatriates after their departure from Marmagão.
- 8.
- Arrangements will be made whereby telegrams arriving at Mormagão for passengers returning to the United States on the Gripsholm will be delivered to them on that vessel before it leaves the port.
Hull