390.1115A/1543: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 14—11:59 p.m.]
2339. American interests—Far East internees. Department’s 465, February 24. Consulate Shanghai telegraphs:
“Internment measures17 still process execution, therefore impossible furnish information desired until arrested persons all interned. Similarly unable communicate names 200 Americans who will probably be liberated (requested Department’s 525, March 418). Will send soonest possible.
Reference system relief payments (Department’s 465, paragraph 2), relief paid interned Americans occupied China, according Department’s 1202, February 14, 1942,19 in principle considered loans but Japanese authorities fear American Government will eventually demand repayment not from beneficiaries but from detaining power.
For this reason all efforts find practical solution for payment relief to internees meets opposition Japanese authorities. To reassure them this respect and permit effective assistance internees, recommend authorization declare payments made on basis paragraph 15 Department’s 1202 be considered gifts not loans of American Government.”
- For message informing the Department of general internment of Americans in China, see telegram No. 743, February 1, from the Minister in Switzerland, p. 959.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 262.↩