711.94114A/356: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
989. American Interests—Japan. Please request Swiss Government reference Legation’s 1231, March 1, to inform Gorgé that Department cannot agree that atrocities referred to in its 274 and 275 of January 27 may be considered as belonging to the past, except to the extent that life taken cannot be restored. The examples cited in the January 27 telegrams were mentioned in the expectation that the Japanese Government (1) would promptly investigate the conditions that resulted in such atrocities, (2) would make appropriate amends, and (3) would take appropriate steps to prevent their recurrence as well as to provide henceforth correct treatment in accordance with the standard prescribed by the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention. The paramount concern of the moment is, of course, as Gorgé rightly believes to obtain humane treatment for those who remain.
Gorgé is to be commended for endeavoring to make the Japanese Government realize that its interests as well as those of the protected Power will best be served by complete implementation of Article 86 [Page 936] of the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention. The best evidence that the Japanese Government intends henceforth to fulfill its undertaking to implement the humanitarian provisions of the Convention would be to permit representatives of the Swiss Government to visit all camps where American prisoners of war and civilian internees are held by the Japanese authorities, as required by that article. Such action would be much more effective in establishing the bona fides of the Japanese authorities than any number of verbal assurances.
The Department will await with anxious interest further reports from Gorgé concerning the measure of success attending his representations.