Office of the Historian

195.7 Richard Hovey/1–3145: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)

Washington, February 12, 1945.

679. Request Swiss Foreign Office to deliver following message verbatim to Japanese Government in reference to Department’s telegrams 2043, June 14, 1944 and Legation’s 8041, December 8, 1944:8

“Concerning United States protest regarding the Japanese attacks upon survivors of torpedoed Richard Hovey, the United States Government notes that the Japanese Government, after a reported thorough examination of the facts involved, states that no action has been revealed corresponding to that set forth in the protest under reference.

“The evidence stated in the protest of the United States Government was specific. Statements of survivors who witnessed the attack are of unchallenged validity. The United States Government, therefore, reserves all rights in the matter.”

[Page 429]

The Swiss Minister at Tokyo should be requested to telegraph date of delivery to Japanese Government.9

Grew
  1. Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. v, pp. 1175 and 1176, respectively.↩
  2. In telegram 1320, March 1, the Minister in Switzerland reported delivery of the message on February 21 (195.7 Richard Hovey/3–145).↩