[Secret]
From: Hsinking
To: Tokyo
November 28, 1941
Purple
#781. Strictly Secret
To
be handled in Government Code.
In
view of the situation, after conferring with the competent authorities, the
following measures having to do with the treatment of British and American
nationals in Manchukuo in the event that war breaks out with England and the
United States are as outlined below. We are unanimously agreed on these
matters. Should there be any questions regarding them, please wire me at once.
I.
Policy. On the outbreak of war with England and the United States, after
you have at the appropriate time gathered all these nationals together, they
are to be returned each to his own homeland at as early a date as possible.
However, until this return can be arranged, they are to be interned in places
of concentration in Manchukuo.
The
control of such property as they might leave behind will be administered by the
Manchukuo Government.
II. Detailed outline.
1. Persons to be interned:
a. British nationals—839.
b. American citizens—81.
c. Of these, consular officials and Catholic missionaries are
to be given preferential treatment.
d. Nationals of the Soviet or other third powers observed to be
obnoxious characters with pro-British and American leanings
are to be suitably taken care of.
2. Time and Method of Internment.
a. Persons mentioned in the paragraph above are to be advised
to get in touch with the Japanese Chief of Detention. They
are to be concentrated in the three areas, Harbin, Mukden
and Chokinshu. [a]
b. Then, depending on negotiations, they will be returned each
to his own country. When evacuation is through the Soviet,
we will release them at Manchuli, and when they are to be
transported to Shanghai, they will be released in Dairen.
c. This will be carried out by the Manchukuo Police
authorities. (In Kwantung Province the procedure will be
controlled by the Provincial Police Office.)
d. All property left behind is to be administered through legal
measures by the Manchukuo Government.
Army 25572 Trans. 12-2-41 (5)
[a] Kana spelling.
(EXHIBITS
OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)