390.1115A/1546: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
Washington, May 22,
1943.
1230. Your 2400, April 16.
- 1.
- Please ascertain whether Intercross delegate Hong Kong can purchase urgently needed medical and food supplies for distribution to interned and uninterned American nationals there and precautions which could be taken to assure actual receipt of such supplies.
- 2.
- The Japanese Government should be informed that its attitude toward representation in such areas as Hong Kong has seriously hampered the representation by Switzerland of American interests in Japanese-controlled territory. In view of the absence of restrictions upon the facilities of the Spanish, Swedish and Swiss representatives protecting Japanese interests in the continental United States, Hawaii and Samoa, respectively, the United States Government is entitled to [Page 1024] expect that the Japanese Government will facilitate rather than impede the agencies endeavoring to act in behalf of American interests. In fact, the United States Government is of the opinion that such restrictions upon the representation of belligerent interests by neutral powers are warranted only if temporary in character and if dictated by military necessity in areas where active military operations are in progress. If the Japanese Government still maintains its opposition to the exercise by Switzerland of good offices in behalf of American interests at Hong Kong, it is earnestly hoped that the Swiss Minister at Tokyo may be able to persuade them to permit the informal acts of the International Red Cross Delegate at Hong Kong in behalf of American nationals, whether uninterned, interned, or prisoners of war. An early reply is requested.
If the Japanese Government does not agree, it is hoped that Gorgé may be able to obtain a satisfactory counter-proposal.
Hull