702.9411A/79
The Department of State to the Spanish Embassy
The Department of State refers to a memorandum dated January 4, 1943 from the Spanish Embassy94 in charge of Japanese interests in continental United States and to the Department’s reply of January 26, 194395 regarding the alleged mistreatment of the personnel of the former Japanese Consulate General at Honolulu after their transfer to the continental United States.
Careful consideration has been given to the protest of the Japanese Government, but this Government cannot agree that the treatment was unnecessarily strict and severe. For the protection of these Japanese nationals, it was considered necessary to keep secret any information regarding their movements. For reasons of national security the members of this group were not given an indication of their destination.
The Department is not aware that this group was subjected to any threatening language or treatment. On the contrary they were given courteous treatment, and every attempt was made to make their stay in Arizona and New York as agreeable as possible.
With respect to the alleged delay experienced by them in boarding the M.S. Gripsholm, a definite sailing date had not been agreed upon by the interested Governments up to the time when these passengers were embarked and in view of the uncertainty it was felt undesirable [Page 1073] to move them from their quarters until the sailing date was definitely-known.
The Department is sending a reply96 on the other portion of the protest from the Japanese Government direct to the Swedish Legation which is in charge of Japanese interests in the Territory of Hawaii.