740.00114 Pacific War/131: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 31—12:57 a.m.]
708. American interests Far East. Prisoner of war camps. Legation’s 301, 14th.96 Swiss Foreign Office note January 27 states Gorgé made personal representations Japanese Foreign Office endeavor obtain improvement four camps named. Stressed following: [Page 959] medical care, medicinals, dental care, clothing, nourishment, installation canteens, communication with Swiss Legation, correspondence, religious services, sports, recreation, transmission funds prisoners’ families. Gorgé believes if funds placed his disposal can arrange dispatch books, sport equipment, radio sets, games.
Please instruct whether use American interests funds purpose indicated authorized.97
- Not printed; it reported observations on visits to four prisoner-of-war camps in Japan by a delegate of the Swiss Legation at Tokyo (740.00114 Pacific War/118).↩
- In telegram No. 446, February 22, to the Minister in Switzerland (740.00114 Pacific War/135), the Department authorized Mr. Gorgé to expend $5,000 within the current month for purchases of such items. In telegram No. 2437, April 19 (740.00114 Pacific War/197), the Minister in Switzerland advised that funds for this purpose were no longer indispensable as the YMCA was in a position to handle the problem.↩