711.94114 Supplies/11–2544: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)
4105. Legation’s 7756, November 25. Request Swiss to incorporate substance of following in reply to Japanese Foreign Office communication despatched November 22 by Gorgé:
“Government of the United States is gratified at the cooperative attitude evidenced by the Japanese Government in the matter of arranging for the distribution among Allied nationals in Japanese custody in China and the southern areas of proportionate amounts of relief supplies which recently arrived in Japan aboard the Hakusan Maru.
The Government of the United States accepts the offer of the Japanese Government to transport these supplies in two ships, one to proceed to Shanghai and Tsingtao and the other to the southern areas.
The two ships selected to transport the relief supplies will not be subjected to attack, visit, or any interference whatever by United States and Allied forces either on the outward or homeward voyages connected with the transportation of these supplies, subject to the following: The Japanese Government will notify the Swiss Legation, Tokyo, in sufficient time to insure the receipt of the necessary information by the Government of the United States at least 7 days prior to the departure of the vessels, of the characteristics for identification, sailing dates, and routes of these two ships. The ships should have special markings of which the Government of the United States should be notified at the same time and during the voyages covered by this safe conduct the ships should burn all navigation lights.
Provided the Japanese notification is received at least 7 days prior to the announced dates of departure, the Government of the United States undertakes to inform the Japanese Government prior to the departure dates whether the Japanese notification has been accepted.”
For Legation: Forward Japanese notification, when received, to Department by telegram.40
- Undated telegram 8323, received in the Department on December 25, 4:10 p.m., from Bern, reported the Japanese Government’s request for assurances of safe-conduct by the American and Allied Governments for the round-trip voyage of the Hosi Maru, the vessel to leave Kobe the forenoon of January 4, to arrive at Shanghai the afternoon of January 12, after a stop at Moji, and to leave Shanghai the forenoon of January 16, and to arrive at Moji the afternoon of January 28, after a stop at Tsingtao. The requested assurances were given in telegram 1, January 1, 1945, to Bern. Minor modifications in the schedule of dates were proposed by the Japanese Government and transmitted from Bern in telegram 171, January 10, 1945. They were accepted by the American Government in telegram 146, January 10, 1945. (711.94114 Supplies/12–2544, 12–2845, 1–1045) For a statement by the Department, January 1, 1945, on relief supplies for Allied nationals interned in the Far East, see Department of State Bulletin, January 7, 1945, p. 32.↩