740.00115 PW/6–245: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland ( Harrison ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:27 p.m.]
3016. American Interests—China. Leg’s airmail 11202, March 20, A–734, May 18.47
Given below substance Swiss note June 1:
Fontanel visited Lunghwa and Chapei civilian assembly centers week ended May 27 and visiting others this week. Will telegraph consolidated report upon termination visits. He invites attention Department to desperate food situation now existing camps. Since beginning year Jap greatly decreased food deliveries which already quite limited. For past 2 weeks rice distribution completely suspended. Diet now given camp inhabitants consists one meal daily including about 1 ounce meat (occasionally substituted by fish or powdered eggs), 3 to 4 ounces boiled vegetables (very often Chinese cabbage), 1 medium sized potato, 1 small beet and 12 ounces black bread. Owing suspension rice distribution Jap promised increase bread ration to 20 ounces but promise not kept thus far. Camps receive neither tea nor other food products in addition those named above.
Situation highly disconcerting for camp committees fearing camp disorders if situation not improved expeditiously. Fontanel made urgent representation local Jap authorities but does not expect positive result since said officials openly admit inadequacy credits made available by Jap Government for camp provisioning. He observes that contrary general scarcity Jap Shanghai supply remains plentiful and does not justify very bad food situation camps. Fontanel believes this due solely artificial exchange rate fixed between yen and CRB dollar.48 He immediately took steps supply camps with substantial quantities foodstuffs (cereals, peas, lard, sugar, tea, et cetera) which he hopes pay from funds to be purchased free market.
Swiss FonOff instructed Gorgé make strong representation Jap Government in effort have it remedy soonest possible deplorable food conditions prevailing civilian assembly centers occupied China.49
- Neither printed.↩
- Central Reserve Bank notes issued by the Japanese-sponsored regime at Nanking.↩
- In telegram 1991, June 8, 7 p.m., to Bern, the Department stated that it was “gravely concerned over conditions reported Legation’s 3016” and approved the strong representations made by the Swiss Government and the action taken by Mr. Fontanel (740.00115PW/6–245).↩