Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew to President Harry S. Truman

DEGLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) OF Œ Dept. de State letter, Äug. 10, 1872 SECRET NAMS Date 6.30.75 June 15, 1945 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Replacement for Japanese ship Awa Maru The Japanese vessel Awa Maru, traveling under safe conduct granted by the United States on behalf of itself and the other Allied Governments, was sunk by an American submarine on April 1, 1945. The safe conduct was pro- vided to enable the Awa Maru to discharge at ports in the southern areas (Hong Kong, Saigon, Singapore, Surabaya, Batavia, and Muntok) for delivery to American and other Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japa- nese custody a portion of the relief supplies, furnished by the Allied authorities, that had been picked up last fall at Nakhodka, U.S.S.R., by the Japanese for such distribution. On only three occasions since the outbreak of the war in the Pacific, the third being the shipment under reference, have the Japanese agreed, after prolonged negotiations, to accept shipments of food, medicine, and other relief supplies urgently needed by American and other Allied nationals in their custody. On only two occasions (one in 1942, the other in 1943) has the Japanese Government been willing to cooperate in an ex- change of American and Japanese personnel. Because of the unfortunate circumstance referred to it is believed improbable that the Japanese Government will agree to any further exchanges of personnel or accept any further shipments of relief supplies for distribution to Allied