711.94114A/361: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 3—10:31 p.m.]
1288. Am[erican] Interests, Far East. Department’s 1164, May 15; Legation’s 3469, June 9; 4316, July 20.19 Foreign Office note, February 28, states Swiss Minister, Tokyo, telegraphs that newspaper Nippon Times published February 11 article affirming POWs and civilian internees Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai have liberty write [and] receive letters after censorship camp commanders.
As Swiss Consulate, Shanghai, still encountering great difficulties correspondence inmates civilian assembly centers and as all correspondence with other internees and POWs impossible, Swiss Minister intervened Japanese Foreign Office to inquire if regulations correspondence Shanghai camps recently modified.
Swiss Minister took occasion also raise question general correspondence between POWs and protecting power for he has never received letters from POWs although Japanese authorities claim such correspondence permitted.
Legation expressing appreciation action taken Swiss Minister and requesting information regarding results.
- None printed; for summaries of 3469 and 4316, see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. iii, p. 985, footnote 50.↩