740.00116 P.W./10–1545
The Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Reference is made to the letter from the Department of State, SWP, of 14 September 1945,50 transmitting a copy of a note from the Australian Minister dated 25 August 1945,51 with enclosure,50 wherein the Australian Government states that it desires to obtain immediately from the Japanese complete lists of Australian and other Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees, together with full records of evidence of their treatment during custody.
The United States War Crimes Office has taken steps to secure the desired information from its branch office under the Army Theater Judge Advocate and all American prisoners who have been released are being interrogated either in the Theater or in the United States as to their treatment. A Central Record and Information Office of Japanese war criminals and war crimes is being established under the Supreme Commander in Japan. All records and files of this Central Office will be available to any interested United Nation.
Brig. General John M. Weir, U.S. Army, Assistant Judge Advocate General, and Director, War Crimes Office, under date of 28 September 1945 communicated to the Theater War Crimes Office the desire of the Australian Government for information requested with instructions to make such information available to Australian authorities in the field.
Respectfully,