390.1115A/1425: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 21—1:45 a.m.]
1202. American interests—Far East internees. Department’s 2943, December 29,10 Swiss Consulate Shanghai telegraphs:
“Measures Japanese to assure welfare internees proven entirely insufficient. Internees require money, supplies. Efforts undertaken meet following difficulties: (a) Japanese refuse permit recipients relief sign promissory notes, even object simple receipts [on] ground relief [from] protecting power [and] Intercroixrouge voluntary gifts. (b) Food situation Shanghai and outports worse because exhaustion stocks, sharp increase prices. Request authorization waive promissory notes, merely keep special account with individual, collective receipts obtainable or statements associations or Intercroixrouge when representative Consulate cannot visit camp.
At request associations please grant authorization establish stocks indispensable medicaments, foodstuffs as sugar, powdered milk, canned meat, fish. Begun purchase medicaments but required stocks involve expenditure 400,000 francs. Would American Government assume responsibility its proportion number citizens benefited. Early decision requested.”