711.94114A/557: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland ( Harrison )65
2050. American Interests—Japan. Request Swiss Government to inform Gorgé that United States Government is grateful to him for his continued efforts to obtain full reciprocity in the matter of visits to camps for American prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japan and Japanese-controlled territory.
The Department has taken account of Gorgé’s statement that the difficulties which prevent visits to all places in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories where Americans are held are due in his opinion to the Japanese Government’s fears that authorization to make such visits might be interpreted as an abandonment of its policy not to recognize representation of foreign interests in occupied territories. The Department approves the position taken by Gorgé that it is entirely possible to treat separately the question of Swiss protection of American interests generally in Japanese-occupied territories and the question of visits by Swiss authorities to all places in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories where American nationals are held.
It may be of interest to Gorgé to know and he may find it helpful so to inform the Japanese Government that a precedent exists in French North Africa for the separation of general representation duties and camp visitation. In the spring of 1943, the German and Italian Governments with the concurrence of the American Government and the French authorities in Algiers, arranged for the representation of German and Italian interests in North Africa by the Spanish Government but delegated to the Swiss Government responsibility for the inspection of camps where German and Italian prisoners of war were held in North Africa by the military authorities of the United States. The American Government agreed to this arrangement and also granted to the Swiss Government authority to send medical supplies, if needed, to the camps. The Swiss Government was thus charged with safeguarding the interests of German and Italian prisoners of war held by the American authorities in French North Africa, while the Spanish Government was granted authority generally to represent German and Italian interests in French North Africa.
The Department notes with appreciation that as a result of Gorgé’s numerous representations, he has received assurance from the Japanese Foreign Minister that the question of visiting camps in occupied territories is under examination. The Department requests that on [Page 985] the basis of the above considerations Gorgé again request that facilities for visiting camps where American nationals are held in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories be granted him.