740.00114 Pacific War/104: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
79. American interests—Japan. Request Swiss Government to notify Japanese Government of receipt through Intercross83 of proposal made by Japanese Government that ashes of deceased American prisoners of war be returned by future exchange ships unless this Government prefers to have deceased prisoners of war given local burial.
Reply has been made to Intercross Delegate in United States84 that while this Government is willing to cremate bodies of Japanese prisoners of war dying in United States provided Japanese Government so requests, this Government does not desire that American dead in Japan or Japanese-occupied territory be cremated but desires that they be properly identified and interred until end of hostilities.
Statement is made that this Government is making suitable records of the deaths and disposition of bodies of dead Japanese prisoners of war in order that appropriate exchange may be effected when peaceful relations are reestablished and this Government expects Japanese Government to pursue similar course with respect to deceased American prisoners of war.
Official confirmation of Japanese Government’s acceptance of this position is desired and an expression of its wishes respecting disposition of bodies of its nationals dying in United States.