Office of the Historian

740.00115A P.W./7–2744: Telegram

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

Bern, July 27, 1944.
[Received July 27—11:29 p.m.]

4816. American Interests—Japan. Foreign Office note July 26 states Gorgé reports Intercross Delegate not authorized forward Kobe internees supplementary foodstuffs as reported Legation’s 3910, June 19.85 Food situation not improved since transfer Kobe so that not only internees from Guam but other internees detained separate camps obliged obtain food black market. Swiss Legation, Tokyo, states it continuing representations have Japanese supply sufficient food and inquiries whether at least 175 yen monthly recommended by Swiss Consulate, Kobe, might be granted. Legation referred Foreign Office contents Department’s 2222, June 30,86 approved payments up to 280 yen monthly and requested Tokyo indicate amounts granted and date decision.

Harrison
  1. Not printed. Telegram 6509, September 30, 9 a.m., from Bern, reported a Swiss Foreign Office request for a correction of this sentence since for a “certain period International Red Cross delegation Japan provided funds necessary purchase supplementary foodstuffs on black market because relief then paid by Swiss Legation inadequate.” The telegram advised that such expenditures were discontinued at the request of the International Red Cross. (740.00115A P.W./9–3044) Earlier, however, in telegram 3118, September 9, to Bern, the Department had requested the Swiss to inform the Japanese Government that the American Government was “seriously disturbed” that the Intercross Delegate was not authorized to forward supplementary foodstuffs to the internees at Kobe and that Americans confined at Nanasawa were beginning to suffer from malnutrition because they were no longer able to purchase food to supplement their inadequate diet (740.0015A P.W./7–2744). Telegram 6017, September 12, from Bern, reported that Americans at Nanasawa were receiving more abundant and better quality food following representations by the Swiss Legation in Japan (740.00115A P.W./9–1244).↩
  2. Not printed; but for summary, see footnote 44, p. 1030.↩