711.94114 Supplies/10–1844: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
3582. Please request Swiss Government urgently to communicate following to Japanese Government with reference to Japanese Foreign Office note of October 9 to Swiss Legation, Tokyo, reference Legation’s 6916, October 18.
“Government of the United States is gratified to note the Japanese Government is prepared in immediate future to send a Japanese ship to Nakhodka to pick up relief supplies and correspondence intended for Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japanese custody as indicated in the Japanese Foreign Office note of October 9 to the Swiss Legation, Tokyo. As stated in Swiss Legation’s communication (based on Department’s 3006, August 31), United States Government, acting for itself and its Allies in the Pacific, is prepared to assure safe conduct between ports under Japanese administration and the Soviet approach point for the Japanese vessel engaged in this traffic provided the Japanese Government follows the notification procedure suggested in the Swiss Legation’s communication referred to above. It appears from the Japanese Foreign Office communication of October 9 that Japanese Government is agreeable to this procedure.
As regards payment of taxes, local taxes, port taxes, all other public charges and loading charges incurred by Japanese vessel at Nakhodka, United States Government agrees to make direct payment to Soviet authorities. Other expenses connected with this operation which the United States Government has agreed to pay will be met by the transfer of Swiss francs to the Japanese Government.
The Japanese Government, of course, appreciates that the security of the Japanese vessel between the Soviet approach point and [Page 1063] Nakhodka is a matter under the sole jurisdiction of the Soviet Government. While the United States Government does not have the text of the Soviet Government’s communication of August 25 to the Japanese Embassy, Moscow, United States Government assumes that the Soviet Government has given adequate assurances to the Japanese Government regarding safe passage for the Japanese vessel while in Soviet waters. In order that this fact may be confirmed to the Japanese Government, United States Government is communicating to the Soviet Government the full text of the Japanese communication of October 9 with the suggestion that the Soviet Government communicate direct with the Japanese Government with respect particularly to the following portions of the Japanese Government’s communication of October 9: Tertio, 1, 2, 3, 4; Quinto, 1 (since Soviet officials will be in charge), 2, 3.
With reference to Sexto and Septimo of Japanese Government’s communication of October 9, United States Government offers following observations:
United States Government hopes that the successful completion of the current operation will indicate to the Japanese Government the feasibility of further similar operations either by the same or similar means. United States Government desires again to stress that it is willing to accord to the Japanese Government full and complete reciprocity in connection with the transportation and distribution of relief supplies and correspondence sent from Japan to Japanese prisoners of war and civilian internees in Allied custody by whatever means may be agreed upon for further operations of this nature either in connection with the despatch of relief supplies and correspondence alone or with an attendant exchange of nationals. Upon the completion of the current operation United States Government will forward to the Japanese Government a proposal for continued operations of this nature and is hopeful that the Japanese Government will agree as to the desirability of maintaining in operation a channel by means of which relief supplies and correspondence may be forwarded regularly to nationals detained as the result of hostilities.”