Evening star., 1942-01-15
Japan Promises y. S.
10 Give Prisoners
Good Treatment
Swiss ReIoy Answer
To Americun Pledge
To Observe 1929 Pact
BY LLOYD LEHRBAE,
Associated press 4ta6 Writer.

Japan has told the United States
that all captured Americans would
be accorded the good treatment
specified In the International Con-
vention on prisoners of war.
Although Japan's delegates signed
the convention adopted by 47 ma
tions at Geneva in 1929 the pact was
never ratified by the japanese gov
ernment. The pledge made
through the Swiss government-was
the first omcial information received
concerning the treatment to be
accorded American prisoners Of war
In the Far East.
Soon after Japan's attack on Pearl
Harbor. Washington sent word
through the Swiss government that
the American Government would
live up to the prisoners pact and pro-
vide good treatment, food and prison
camp quarters for all Japanese cap
tured.
Red Cross Cooperating.
Marc Peter, former Swiss Minister
here and now a delegate of the In
ternational Red Cross Committee
said after comforting with Secretary
Hull that Japan had established a
prisoners-of-war information bureau
in Toxic.
A similar American bureau to
handle all questions concerning pris-
onerS-of-war has been established
here under Gen. Allen Guillion, pro-
vost marshal.
The prisoners bureau will provide
the International Red Cross Com
mittee central ONCE in Geneva with
lists OF casualties and prisoners as
soon as possible. Mr.. Peter said no
lists had yet been provided by either
the United States or Japan and he
thought 1t would be some time be-
fore the required information would
become available. When obtained
the list of prisoners and casualties
will be transmitted to the American
Government 50 relatives may be no.
titled.
As Red Cross delegate, Mr.. Peter
will act as iaison agent in handling
all information concerning prisoners,
inspect prison camps in this country
to make sure treatment of prisoners
is in accordance with the pact and
supervise forwarding Of mail and
food packages to- prisoners. The
International Red Cross Committee
has delegates performing similar
neutral functions in the other
belligerent countries.
Packages to Be Forwarded.
As soon as transportation facil-
tiles permit, the American Red Cross
or the international ONCE here will
forward mail or food packages to
Americans held prisoner in belleg-
erent countries.
While no oficial lists have been
made public, it is known that a num-
Der of Americans have already been
captured by the Japanese, including
marines from Tientsin, Wake and
Guam; the crew Of an American
gunboat seized at Shanghai, and an
undiscloSed number who may have
been taken prisoners during the jap
anese operations in the Phihppines.
At least 600 American civilians en-
ployed in construction work on Wake
and Guam also have been taken
prisoners.
Only few Japanese prisoners are
reported to have been taken by the
American forces in Hawaii and the
Philippines, but the War Depart.
ment-anticipating future action-i.
arranging establishment Of prisoner.
of-war camps in this country.
The International Committee viii
obtain all available information con.
corning American prisoners in bel.
ligerent countries, but will not dis.
close the name or location of thu
camps In which they are held.