701.0090/2388
Mr. William R. Langdon, Departmental Representative on Board the M.S. “Gripsholm”, to the Secretary of State
[Received September 29.]
Subject: General Report of Second American-Japanese Repatriation Operation, Section One.41a
Sir: I have the honor to report hereunder the progress up to September 21 of the present American-Japanese repatriation operation.
(a) Embarkation of Japanese.
As has no doubt already been reported to the Department, the embarkation of Japanese repatriates from the United States was accomplished on schedule, smoothly and with the greatest degree of efficiency. By the time the ship was under way at midnight of September 1, every passenger was more or less settled in his allotted space while minor matters which troubled individual passengers were being disposed of quickly and satisfactorily. The only mishap in the proceedings was the failure to unload before sailing some 150 pieces of baggage belonging to Japanese held ashore to fill possible vacancies caused by eleventh hour refusals to return to Japan (known as the “Ellis Island pool”) but whom there was no need to embark. This baggage is being located and segregated and will be brought back to New York on this ship.
(b) Conditions on ship and of voyage.
The arrangements for the health and comfort and entertainment of the passengers leave little to be desired. The medical and nursing facilities are superb, the stewards are courteous and attentive, the food is good, the passengers have complete freedom of the fine appointments of the ship, first-class motion pictures are shown at frequent intervals, the well-stocked bars are available to all, and all reasonable wants for daily articles may be obtained from the ship’s novelty store. The spokesman of the Japanese group leaders has expressed to me his appreciation of the pains taken by our Government to provide for the well-being on the ship of the repatriates and assured me that the repatriates were very happy and contented with all arrangements made for them.
[Here follows a detailed account of conditions on the trip.]
Very respectfully yours,