[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)