701.0090/1978
The Department of State to the Spanish Embassy
The Department of State acknowledges the receipt of memorandum no. 249 Ex. 108.03 from the Spanish Embassy9 in charge of Japanese interests in continental United States, regarding the baggage belonging to Japanese repatriates and cargo to be carried on the second exchange vessel.
At the time of the first exchange it was agreed between the United States and Japanese Governments that repatriates would be permitted to take personal effects subject to the capacity of the exchange vessel and provided that the baggage reached the port of embarkation in time to be placed aboard the exchange vessel. In preparation for the second exchange, arrangements have been made so that all the baggage [Page 919] of the repatriates will reach the port of embarkation in time to be loaded on the Gripsholm. Each repatriate is being allowed, free of charge, thirty cubic feet of hold baggage and three suitcases for use in the cabins, with children having a proportionate allowance of hold baggage to the extent desired by the repatriates. Excess baggage may be shipped at the commercial rate of $1.00 per cubic foot.
Definite space has been allocated on the Gripsholm for the baggage of the repatriates and this space is in no way limited by the cargo space alloted for the relief supplies being shipped to the Far East for American internees and prisoners of war.
With reference to the foregoing, the Embassy is invited, if it desires, to inspect the space which has been allocated for the baggage of the repatriates and for the relief supplies and to report its findings to the Japanese Government.