711.94115 Exchange/15: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
3121. American interests—Far East repatriation. Department desires Gorgé to be informed in reference to your 7389 undated (received November 23) that Department although unaware of the clarification desired by the Japanese Government concerning treatment of Japanese nationals interned in the United States promptly informed the Spanish Embassy68 of the purport of Gorgé’s conversation with spokesman of Japanese Foreign Office and stated Department’s willingness to facilitate any investigation which the Spanish Embassy might wish to undertake in order to prepare for the Japanese Government the report which that Government is apparently awaiting.
Spanish Embassy replied December 169 that the Embassy had already transmitted over a hundred reports to the Japanese Government on conditions of places of detention of Japanese in the United States and that the Embassy assumed that upon the receipt of such reports the Japanese Government would be well informed concerning living conditions of its nationals in the United States. In order fully to reassure the Japanese Government on this point however the Embassy requested and the Department promptly authorized Embassy’s representatives again to inspect all places where Japanese nationals are held [Page 949] in the United States. Those inspections are now under way and it is expected that the Spanish Embassy will report to the Japanese Government the observations of Spanish representatives as a result of such inspections.
For its part the United States Government desires the Japanese Government to be informed that the United States continues its best endeavors fully to implement the humanitarian standard of treatment prescribed by the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention which both the United States and Japan have pledged to each other their intention to apply to civilian internees to the extent adaptable. In that connection all places in the United States where Japanese nationals are detained whether prisoner of war camps, internment camps or relocation centers, have at all times been freely open to visits by representatives of the neutral Power protecting Japanese interests in the United States and such representatives have repeatedly visited all such places to satisfy themselves with respect to the treatment being accorded Japanese nationals there detained. The United States Government feels it is in a position therefore to assure the Japanese Government that its nationals in the United States are well protected and cared for and feels confident that the investigation undertaken by the Spanish Embassy at the request of the Japanese Government will confirm the assurances of the United States in this respect. Accordingly the United States Government feels that both the United States and Japanese Governments can confidently proceed with preliminary arrangements for a further exchange.
The Department has been informed by the Spanish Embassy that it has received several thousand applications from Japanese nationals in the United States requesting repatriation. In order that the United States Government may give consideration to the wishes of the Japanese Government with respect to those Japanese nationals to be repatriated in the third exchange it would be appreciated if the wishes of the Japanese Government might be made known as soon as possible.
For its part the Department would be grateful if Gorgé would arrange to have compiled for the Department’s consideration a suggested passenger list of American nationals for the third exchange. In compiling such list the Department believes that those who are ill or otherwise showing their inability to withstand the rigors of continued internment should have preference, including seriously wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war for whose repatriation Articles 68 to 74 of the Convention provide. Department suggests that the camp committees at each place of detention, including those in the Philippine Islands, might cooperate with the Swiss representatives in compiling such suggested passenger list. It is hoped that the Japanese Government will be willing on a compassionate basis [Page 950] to facilitate communication between the Swiss representatives and such committees for this purpose.
It is evident that the successful termination of the second exchange has been due to the cooperation of all concerned, for which the Government of the United States is deeply appreciative. It is hoped that the experience gained in preparing for and carrying on the second exchange will materially contribute toward the expeditious accomplishment of the third exchange.