Office of the Historian

711.94114A/6–2145

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Stimson)

Washington, July 20, 1945.

My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Department of State is receiving a number of letters from next of kin and friends of American prisoners of war held by the Japanese suggesting that the United States Government offer to ransom American prisoners from the Japanese Government.

Since other repatriation proposals which may prove successful are now pending,79 it is doubtful if it would be wise at this time to make an offer to the Japanese Government for the ransom of the prisoners. In order to be on firm ground in answering inquiries from the public regarding ransom proposals, however, I believe we should be able to tell inquirers that the advisability of making a ransom offer to the Japanese has been carefully considered. If pending repatriation proposals are not successful it may become advisable to consider further the feasibility of resorting to a ransom offer to the Japanese Government.

Basically, the question of whether a ransom offer should be made to the Japanese Government seems to turn upon the question of military expediency. Since the Japanese would presumably not be satisfied with American credits, it is likely that any ransom would eventually have to take the form of shipping food and relief supplies to Japan, perhaps even weapons. This would strengthen the ability of the Japanese nation to resist and thereby prolong the war, thus costing more American lives. In effect, if this Government were to pay ransom for the release of prisoners of war it would be obtaining their [Page 355] release at the cost of other American lives. Moreover, the Japanese Government might be able to use our offer as a propaganda weapon.

The question of the military expediency of a ransom offer seems, in view of the foregoing, to be a question for the final determination of the military authorities. I should appreciate receiving your observations with regard thereto. I am addressing a similar letter to the Secretary of the Navy.80

Sincerely yours,

For the Acting Secretary of State:
J. C. Holmes

Assistant Secretary
  1. See bracketed note, p. 423.↩
  2. Letter of July 20 to Mr. Forrestal not printed. No replies from the Secretaries of War and Navy found in Department files.↩