711.94114 Pay-0/15: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Harrison )
812. American Interests—Japan—Prisoner of War Salaries. Your 3046, May 16 [18], 1943.20 Request Swiss to inform Japanese Government [Page 935] that the United States Government accepts Japanese Government’s offer to pay American officer prisoners of war in its custody the same salaries as corresponding ranks in the Japanese armed forces. It is understood that these salaries will not include the cost of food and clothing which American officer prisoners of war will pay themselves out of their salaries.
The United States Government will, on a reciprocal basis, pay Japanese officer prisoners of war of ranks equivalent to Captain and upwards in the United States Army the salaries paid by the Japanese Government to officers of these ranks in the Japanese armed forces. Japanese officer prisoners of war held by the United States Government will pay out of their salaries the cost of food and clothing.
The United States Government understands that Japanese officers of ranks corresponding to First and Second Lieutenant in the United States Armed Forces are paid by the Japanese Government at the rate of 85 and 70.83 yen a month respectively. On the basis of the proposed exchange rate of one dollar equals four yen these salaries would be the equivalent of $21.25 and $17.71 a month respectively which is not considered adequate to cover the cost of their food and clothing in the United States. The United States Government will, therefore, on a unilateral basis, pay Japanese officer prisoners of war of these ranks a salary of 28 and 25 dollars a month respectively which will cover these costs and allow modest surpluses for incidentals.