711.94114A O.T./10: Airgram

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

A–68. American Interests—Thailand—POWs. Legation’s 207, January 10.16 The American POWs probably detained by the Japanese and are not under jurisdiction of the Thai Government. They number 194. The Japanese Embassy at Bangkok was requested by the Swiss Consulate at Bangkok to authorize a visit to these POWs.

The Legation on January 22 requested the Swiss to inform its Legation at Tokyo, confidentially, the difficulties encountered in Bangkok and to take advisable action to support the representations made at Bangkok with the Japanese Government.

A Swiss Note, dated February 4, quotes following English text message communicated by Japanese Embassy, Bangkok, to the Swiss Consulate there:

“Concerning the visit to American POWs, has the honor to inform that the said visit has not been permitted on the reason of military purpose.”17

The foregoing has been communicated to the Swiss Legation, Tokyo.

Harrison
  1. Not printed.
  2. Despatch 7755, April 3, 1944, from Bern, reported the substance of an oral communication to Walter Siegenthaler, Swiss Consul at Bangkok, by a spokesman of the Japanese Embassy, as follows: The Japanese authorities do not recognize the Swiss Consulate at Bangkok as representing American and British, interests in Thailand and therefore gratuities to prisoners of war should be made to Mr. Siegenthaler in his private capacity. Receipts for relief parcels and pocket money would henceforth be signed by the Japanese Commandant and not, as before, by camp authorities and senior British Officers. Finally, the Japanese authorities do not recognize the representative of the International Red Cross Committee in Thailand. (711.94114A O.T./15)