Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, The Far East, Volume V

711.94114A/9–1144: Airgram

The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State

Bern, September 11, 1944.

A–554. Am[erican] Interests, Far East. Legation’s airmail 8150, May 10. Foreign Office note September 6 encloses copy telegram August 29, substance quoted below, from Swiss Legation, Tokyo, transmitting text report received from Shigemitsu. In transmitting following, Swiss Foreign Office adds that according recent telegram from Swiss Consulate, Shanghai, no inspection civilian internment camps permitted since July 1943 but Japanese authorities promised give authorization this month.

Begin substance:

Regarding treatment American POWs and civilian internees within areas under Japanese administration, Japanese Government replied in detail to U. S. Government April 28.⁷⁷ As further information has since been received from POW and CI camps Shanghai, Canton, Hong Kong, Java and Philippines concerning treatment accorded, some particulars thereof which it is considered will supplement above-mentioned reply of Japanese Government are given below:

A. Treatment POWs at Shanghai camps.

1. POW petitions. It is provided that POWs may petition camp authorities according existing regulation.

2. POW clothing. POWs provided with clothing same quality as Japanese soldiers and permitted use clothing owned by them. All clothing received from outside as relief supplies is handed over to them.

3. Permission retain personal effects. POWs permitted retain and use such personal effects of daily necessity as toilet articles, etc. Other articles unnecessary or requiring control are kept in custody by camp authorities although some such articles permitted to be used when necessary.

4. Food and nutrition. Same rate of food supplies which are provided Japanese soldiers as to sufficiently maintaining health is supplied POWs. Rations further supplemented by relief supplies from outside. Camp authorities striving ensure supply of variety of provisions for POWs by raising cattle and cultivating vegetables [and on] camp premises they raise swine, rabbits, sheep, ploughoxen and ploughhorses, etc. Among Shanghai POWs at present none suffering pellagra, scorbutus or sprue [and] only few slight cases beriberi. Existing percentage however considerably lower than among Japanese soldiers. Weights of POWs show average increase approximately 4 kilograms over those at time commitment camp. Among them there is not single patient suffering disease due malnutrition or undernourishment.

5. Camp canteens. At POW camps, Shanghai, management canteens entrusted POWs and profits are permitted be spent for POW comfort and welfare.

6. Labor. At POW camps, Shanghai, no POW ever subjected labor directly related war operations.

7. Medical facilities. POW camps, Shanghai, adequately provided medical facilities.

8. Observance religious rites. POWs permitted observe religious rites at camp once weekly in accordance respective sects and religious minister invited from outside once monthly. On special occasions like Easter, Catholic father permitted visit camp, conduct prayer and communion services.

9. Permission for possession text of treaties. Certain number officers permitted retain their own text of treaties.

10. Letter written by POW. Copy of letter written by American POWs attached hereto for information U. S. Government. (Annex 1.⁷⁸)

B. Treatment civilian internees, Shanghai camps.

1. Visits of representative U. S. interests to internment camps. Swiss Consul General, Shanghai, charged [with] U. S. interests visited and inspected all parts internment camps Shanghai. Expressed satisfaction with accommodations of camps. Intercross⁷⁹ Delegate, Shanghai, also visited camps since established. Both Consul General and Intercross Delegate during inspection visits spoke to leader of each compartment and their acquaintances among internees.

2. Internees petitions. Internees have through their representatives sometimes made petitions to camp authorities but none in nature of complaint is known to have ever been made.

3. Clothing. As internees brought with them plenty clothing at time their commitment to camp, it has not been found necessary make further supply by camp authorities.

4. Provisions in addition to the fixed rations supplied by camp authorities. Intercross Delegation permitted send gifts and authorized purveyors supply them with supplementary provisions if desired. Moreover camp authorities permit internees who volunteer for health and recreation to cultivate vegetables and cereals on part of camp premises assigned such propose [purpose?], and produce is appropriated as food for internees.

5. Camp canteens. Internment camps Shanghai self-managed by internees so canteens also left their management and camp authorities do not interfere disposal profits.

6. Labor and comforts. At Shanghai internment camps internees never been forced engage any labor. Internees can enjoy reading, indoor games, open air exercise, etc., and naturally health excellent in spite average age 47. Stage equipment provided in camp hall where concerts and dramatic performances often given. Adequate and sufficient comforts thus secured for internees.

7. Medical and other facilities. At internment camps Shanghai well equipped medical offices exist and sufficient attention given sanitation and medical treatment under supervision Japanese surgeon captain and assisted by soldier nurses and interned physicians. When necessary, patients temporarily released and sent designated hospitals outside for treatment. Camps perfectly equipped with sitting rooms, bathrooms, showers, kitchens, lavatories and heating apparatus. Buildings spacious and gardens and playgrounds are attached.

8. Observance religious rites. Perfect freedom granted internees for observance religious rites. In May 1943 seven marriages among British, American and Greek nationals permitted and performed accordance respective religions. Several religious ministers among internees conduct services every Sunday.

9. Shanghai internment camps conclusion. Camp authorities pay due regard personality internees and permit lead daily life regularly. Consequently everything good order and no dispute ever occurred. Internees act in concert with wishes camp authorities endeavoring always cooperate making internees life happy. Copy letter from Egle, Intercross Delegate attached. (Annex 2.)

C. Treatment civilian internees Canton camp.

1. Internment enemy nationals, Canton. Upon outbreak greater East Asia war, enemy nationals resident Canton prohibited leave respective premises except for purchases of necessities, bank business, medical treatment, religious services and other purposes deemed necessary by authorities and for open air exercise necessary for preservation health. Apart from foregoing no restriction imposed. November 5, 1942, nine of them, four Americans and five British, transferred to internment camp but camp closed May 25, 1942, and inmates transferred newly established civil center.

2. Details internees treatment. At camp internees not only free from all restraint or restriction regarding daily life but cooking meals, cleaning rooms and laundry are done by three Chinese women employed Japanese army. Therefore internees have so much leisure some volunteered gardening or ploughing camp premises and there was absolutely no instance forced labor. If internees became ill they were permitted immediately consult doctor and receive treatment. Camp authorities never refused medical treatment nor did any internee ever complain due illness. Internees permitted observe religious rites not only every Sunday but also other occasions demanded. Since transfer civil center, internees continued receive fair and just treatment and civil center visited occasionally by Swiss Consul. Due very generous treatment accorded inmates civil center and also their own cooperative efforts none until present ever subjected to punishment.

D. Details regarding treatment POW camp Hong Kong. Goods previously sold [at] prime cost [to] canteens attached POW camp Hong Kong but since April 1, 1944, they are permitted be sold uniform rate 5 percent profit which under supervision and permission Japanese authorities is spent promotion welfare of internees. (Annex 3.) Since establishment Hong Kong POW camp, no children, soldiers or civilians permitted visit except those whose visit especially permitted by Government General there. Nor has curiosity of public regarding POWs at camp ever been allowed to be satisfied.

E. Details treatment American POW and CI camps Java: 117 American POWs including 9 officers, 108 noncoms or privates, and 39 CIs Java all receiving just and fair treatment as stated below.

1. POW petitions. Senior POW officer and Chairman Self Government Committee of CIs enjoy privilege making petitions and stating complaints to camp authorities and no punishment ever inflicted or threatened upon complaints.

2. Clothing. POWs supplied necessary clothing and CIs permitted use their own clothing. Clothing question comparatively simple in tropical region where no seasonal change. POWs engaged bodily labor always supplied straw hats and sporting shoes.

3. Personal effects. POWs and CIs permitted retain and use personal effects for daily use as far as circumstances permit, permitted possess personally certain amounts of own money, remainder being deposited with banks on their respective accounts.

4. Provisions. As American POWs and CIs not accustomed to rice they are supplied bread. Fruits plenteously rationed to ensure sufficient vitamins and camp stalls specially ordered sell papayas, bananas and oranges. Further as preventative measures against declined physical strength due tropical heat, POWs and CIs given yeast prepared from Dindinan [Indian?] corn by physicians among POWs. For preservation health those POWs engaged labor, special attention given by utilizing nutritious value of vitaminous food such as bovine blood, intestines, etc. To secure abundance of rations, POWs made attend to cow milking, raising swine, ducks and fish and cultivation vegetables.

5. Camp canteens. Profits accruing from sales at stalls in Java camps corresponding canteens other regions are spent purchasing sporting and amusement articles, newspapers, magazines for welfare POWs.

6. Labor. Officer POWs have attendants appointed look after personal demands. Are not engaged labor except gardening and [the] like which they do own accord. CIs work in connection operation maintenance and management camps and never forced do any bodily toil.

7. Medical treatment. Each POW camp provided medical office and sickroom, and physicians and nurses among POWs examine and treat patients. CIs also looked after by physicians appointed amongst them and when necessary patients permitted enter and receive medical treatment at Government or public hospitals outside.

8. Observance religious rites. In POW and CI camps, chapels provided where observance religious rites permitted and freedom of faith granted.

9. POW and CI camps accommodations. In Java POWs confined former Dutch [East] Indian army barracks and CIs in ordinary dwelling houses. Electric lighting and water supply abundant and nothing is wanting to make places comfortable to live in. Moreover to prevent malaria, POWs and CIs each supplied mosquito net.

[F.] In details treatment POWs at Philippine camps. Regarding details treatment accorded POWs Philippine camps, following are attached for information U. S. Government.

1. Radio broadcast speech on medical treatment in POW hospitals made by Commander I. B. Sartin, Medical Corps, USN. (Annex 4.)

2. Radio broadcast concerning observance religious rites, etc., at POW camps by Chaplain Perry O. Wilcox, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. regular army. (Annex 5.)

[Harrison]

77. See despatch 8150, p. 941.
78. Annexes transmitted by the Minister in Switzerland in despatch 10991, February 27, 1945; received March 9. None printed.
79. International Red Cross Committee.