711.94114A/9–2144: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
3739. American Interests—Indochina. Legation’s 6274, September 21. Request Swiss Government to have Gorgé deliver the following message textually86 to the Japanese Government:
The American Government is reliably informed that in Saigon sick and wounded American prisoners of war are subjected to the authority of a cruel and irresponsible soldier who has been placed in control of the hospital and that the medical supplies and drugs essential to the proper care of these prisoners of war have not been provided.
Such administration of a military hospital is in direct opposition to the Japanese Government’s commitment to accord protection and humane treatment at all times to American nationals in its custody [Page 1009] as well as to Article 1 of the Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and the Sick of Armies in the Field to which Japan is a party and which states that officers, soldiers, and other persons officially attached to the armies who are wounded or sick shall be respected and protected in all circumstances; they shall be humanely treated and cared for without distinction of nationality by the belligerent in whose power they are.
The American Government demands that a prompt investigation be made of this matter and that the Japanese Government undertake immediately to rectify the conditions reported herein.
- In telegram 3784, November 7, 1 p.m., to Bern, the Acting Secretary of State directed that the word “textually” be changed to read “in paraphrase”. (711.94114A/9–2144)↩