DECLASSIFIED a Authority A ehcral 3313 2311 of inues ua on annel States Resentment of gun re a JUL 39-442 MEOFMDUM Foe ATTORNEY calms-i1 Re STANLEY CLAUDE SAMUEL JOHNSTON This memorandum furnishes information requested in a memorandum from Mr hilliam D Mitchell to me Mr Mitchell desired to be informed as to the re patriation of the Japanese diplomats and other nationals and desired that certain inquiries be made as to what if any access they could have had to the newspaper articles which appeared on June 7 I942 - Gne thousand sixtyethree Japanese diplomats and nationals left the Port 'of New York City at 11 20 P M on June 18 1942 aboard the Gripsholm a Swedish chartered vessel on route for Rio de Janeiro Brazil The Gripsholm is at the present time on the high seas proceeding from Rio de Janeiro to Port Lourenco Marques Portuguese East Africa where it is due to arrive on or about July 22 1942 It is expected that the exchange of the Japanese and American diplomatic corps will be effected within one day of the arrival The representa- tive of the United States State Department aboard the Gripsholm at the present time_is Raymond D hhir who can always be reached in care of the State Department hashington D C The Japanese diplomats who were included in the above group I prior to their arrival in New Yerk City had been stationed in three localities Asheville North Carolina White Sulphur Springs heat Virginia and Dragoon Arizona There were Japanese diplomats at Dragoon Arizona and all of this group had-formerly been stationed in the Hawaiian Islands Special Agent Wells Bailey of the State Department accompanied this group when they left Arizona and was with them until their arrival in New York City on June 10 1942 They were immediately taken to the Hotel in New York City and were he-d incommunicado until they were takensaboard the Gripsholm on June 13 19 Agent Bailey can testify to the fact that they were not allowed to see any p neWSpapers whatsoever during the time they were in Arizona and while they en route to New York City Special Agent Frank hadden -State Department can testify that this group was not allowed access to any newspapers after-their arrival in NeW'York City He can also testify to the fact that this group was placed aboard the Gripsholm on June 13 1942 A second group of Japanese diplomats the majority of whom had prior to the declaration of ear been stationed in South American countries was located at Grove Park Inn Asheville North Carolina until June 10 1942 when they were transported to New York City and immediately upon their arrival there were taken aboard the Gripsholm Special Agent J Hhskey State Department I can testify to the fact that while held at asheville North Carolina and while en route to New York City this group was allowed to receive copies 131TY of the New York Times neWSpaper and was not desnished copies of any other UNITED ipfcgi e M3a newspapers- l ia DECLASSHHED Anthem MED lg lg -3 i memorandum for the Attorney General 7 Page 2 The largest group of Japanese diplomats was held at White Sulphur Springs west Virginia until they were placed on two trains to be transported to NeW'York City The first train left for New at 11 30 P M June 10 1942 and the second train left at 12 30 A M June 11 1942 Both trains arrived in New Yerk City on June 11 T942 and the diplomats were immediately placed aboard ship Special Agent Edward O Poole State Department was present with the group during the sojourn at White Sulphur Springs wast Virginia where they were located from April 8 1942 until their departure for New York City Special Agent George Newhirk traveled with the group aboard the first train and Special Agent William hangels was aboard the second train which left White Sulphur Springs nest Virginia The three State Department Agents can testify to the fact that while in'West Virginia and while en route to NeW York City this group was allowed to read the New York Times only After the arrival of the various groups in New York City all Japanese diplomats with the exception of the twenty three formerly stationed in the Hawaiian Islands were placed aboard the Gripsholm where they remained until the ship sailed on June 18 1942 They were allowed to read the New York Times only The twentyethree diplomats from Hanaii were not allowed to read any neWspapers whatsoever at any time Approximately 500 Japanese nationals in addition to the members of the Japanese diplomatic corps were on the Gripsholm at the time she embarked from New York City These 500 Japanese started to assemble in New York City on June 7 1942 and by June 11 1942 all had reported at the Hotel where they were guarded questioned and searched by various Government agencies Some of these individuals prior to their reporting at the Hotel had been held on Ellis Island Others had been in concentration camps some had been in Various Army camps and a great number had been at liberty many of those who were at liberty did not report to the Hotel until June 10 or June 11 1942 and of course had access until that date to any newspaper which they might desire to purchase All of the Japanese nationals the mere not connected with the diplomatic corps were searched prior to their going aboard ship and likewise their baggage was thoroughly searched They were not allowed to take with them any printed matter The members of the diplomatic corps Here net subjected to personal search nor was their baggage eXamined Special Agent Frank Madden can testify as to the sailing of the Gripsholm on June 18 $942 and also regarding the placing of the_various DECLASSIFIED Authority Memorandum for the Attorney General 0 rPage 3 diplomatic groups aboard ship upon their arrival in New York He can also testify as to the Japanese nationals who were located in the Hbtel and is in a position to furnish information regarding the fact that some of these nationals did not report to the hotel until June 11 1942 and that a great number of them were at liberty prior to their arrival at the Hetel All of the Special Agents of the State Department mentioned ab0ve can best be contacted through ar T F Fitch Chief Special Agent State Department ashington D C Respectfully John Edg o rer Directo                     National Security Archive    Suite 701  Gelman Library  The George Washington University    2130 H Street  NW  Washington  D C  20037    Phone  202 994‐7000  Fax  202 994‐7005  nsarchiv@gwu edu