740.00114A Pacific War/221a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
2416. Request Swiss Government to inform its Minister Tokyo that this Government has reports of Japanese radio broadcasts to the effect [Page 824] that the Japanese authorities intend to try before military tribunals American prisoners of war for military operations and to impose upon them severe penalties, including even the death penalty. Other reports state that Japanese radio broadcasts are to the effect that such trials have already taken place.
Ask Swiss Minister urgently to report the facts regarding the foregoing. Also request report, whether, in accordance with the Japanese Government’s undertaking to apply the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention, Swiss representatives have been permitted to visit the prisoners in question as provided in Article 86 of the Convention.