JAPAN EXPLAINS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 123, 19 February 1944, Page 7

JAPAN EXPLAINS

Hold-up Of P.O.W. Supplies

NEW YORK, February 16. Tokip official radio quoted Sadao Iguchi, spokesman of the Board of Information. saying that Japan withdrew its approval of the American proposal to send supplies to prisoners of war “because of the Tule Lake incident, in which a number of Japanese were maltreated, and also the American bombing attack on the hospital ship Buenos Aires Maru.” It added that Japan had informed the Swiss Minister on March 29 last that it had formulated a complete plan, taking into consideration the American desire to send 1500 tons of foodstuffs, clothing and medical supplies a month. Furthermore, it was prepared with port facilities, if the goods were transmitted by Soviet vessels via- Vladivostock or the Trans-Siberian railway. The Soviet Union also intended to assist in the transmission of the goods. However, in view of the seriousness of the Tule Lake and Buenos Aires Maru incidents, the Japanese Government post-, poned its reply to the United States Government, and the question remains at this status. The American Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Breckenbridge Long, stated in Washington that negotiations for the return of 1500 out of several thousands of Americans held by the Japanese had been halted pending the result of an investigation'of the Tule Lake incident by the -Spanish Embassy. Many were facing death through malnutrition because of their inadequate diet.

Tule Lake, near the border of California and Oregon, is the site of an internment camp where Japanese nationals are held.