740.00115 Pacific War/1837: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 3—3:17 a.m.]
5380. American interests, Far East, medical treatment internees. Department’s 1186, May 18, 1943.81 Swiss Consul General, Shanghai, reports Japanese authorities refuse permit his representatives visit hospitalized internees except for sole purpose obtaining signatures promissory notes when internees discharged hospital or in urgent cases to note internee’s last wishes. Hospitalized internees not permitted communicate relatives, friends.
He considers this inhumane treatment irreconcilable with Japanese insistence internees pay costs hospitalization and suggests representations Japanese Government to permit his staff visit internees regularly and permit latter communicate relatives, friends. Also suggests indicating Japanese Government that authorization pay hospitalization will be reexamined if more liberal treatment not given.