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The Axis diplomats remained at the American resorts for about 6 months while exchange arrangements were made through the International Red Cross. They were exchanged through neutral Portugal, both Portugal itself and the Portuguese colony of Mozambique.
The German diplomats were boarded the Drottningholm bound for Lisbon. There they were exchanged for American diplomats traveling by train from Berlin. The Japanese diplomats traveled by train to New York where they boarded the Swedish liner Gripsholm. The most logical exchange would have been over a Pacific route, perhaps at Vladisvostock in the neutral Soviet Union. So Mozombique was chosen as tghe closest neutral territory to Japan. Japanese women and children were driven to the train station at White Sulphur Springs (June 10, 1942). Taxies shuttled the Japanese back and forth from the station to the hotel transporting women and children. The men escorted by armed guards walked the short distance to the station. The guards were primarily to protect the individuals. They boarded two special passenger trains. Senior diplomats were assigned Pullman class with private sleeping compartments. The train took them to New York where they boarded the chartered Swedish liner Gripsholm. The Swedish vessel was destined for Lourenco Marques (Maputo) in Mozambique. The ship had a lasrge sign painted on the sides identifying the vessel as 'Diplomatic'. It sailed with lights lit so that U-boat captains could easily identify it. American diplomats arrived from Shanghai and Yokohama aboard the Asama Maru and the Conte Verde an Italian ship the Japanese chartered. After the exchange the Japanese boarded the Asama Maru which had delivered some of the American diplomats. [Stewart]
The German diplomats boarded the Drottningholm bound for Lisbon. There they were exchanged for American diplomats brought by train from Berlin.
Two exchanges were orgazized during the war. The first was for diplomats (July 1942). The second was a more mixed group of missionaries and businessmem. The first exchange wih Japanese diplomats traveled by train to New York where they boarded the Swedish liner Gripsholm. The most logical exchange would have been over a Pacific route, perhaps at Vladisvostock in the neutral Soviet Union. For whatever reason this did not happen. Instead, Mozombique was chosen as the closest neutral territory to Japan. Japanese women and children were driven to the train station at White Sulphur Springs (June 10, 1942). Taxies shuttled the Japanese back and forth from the station to the hotel transporting women and children. The men escorted by armed guards walked the short distance to the station. The guards were primarily to protect the individuals. They boarded two special passenger trains. Senior diplomats were assigned Pullman class with private sleeping compartments. The train took them to New York where they boarded the chartered Swedish liner Gripsholm. The Gripsholm stopped at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Brazil had also declared war on Japan. At Rio, 417 Japanese boarded. A member of the Japanese Embassy staff carried a cloth covered portrait of the Emperor and the Japanese bowed as it passed and was placed on a safe place aboard the ship.
The echange was carried out at Lourenco Marques (Maputo) in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. The ship had a large sign painted on the sides identifying the vessel as 'Diplomatic'. It sailed with lights lit so that U-boat captains could easily identify it. American diplomats arrived from Shanghai and Yokohama aboard the Asama Maru and the Conte Verde an Italian ship the Japanese chartered. The Asama Maru was owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK)--the Japanese Mail Steamship Company. It was launched in 1929. There were large white crosses painted on its sides to identify itto American and British submarines. A second exchange ship, Conte Verde traveled from Shanghai, calling at Singapore. The two ships rondevoued and sailed to Lourenco Marques, arriving on July 23, 1942. The two vessels carried 1,500 Americans from Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Saigon.
It was an NYK vessel that in 1912 had delivered the first cargo of cherry tree saplings to Washington, D.C. They were a gift from the City of Tokyo's Mayor Yukio Ozaki. After the exchange the Japanese boarded the Asama Maru which had delivered some of the American diplomats. [Stewart]
The second exchange was a more varied group, including nationls from many allied nations (Noveber 1943). This time the individuals included many missionaries and busineesmen and thir families as well a diplomatic persinnel from Latin America. Again the Gripsholm was involved. The Japanese ship was the Teia Maru a French ship seized by the Japanese. It was later sank by an American submarine. They were from internmet camps on the Home Islands and Shanghai as well as Hong Kong, Sigon, and Singapore. This time the exchange was made through another Portuguese colony--Gao in India.
Stewart, William H. Military Historical Cartographer. "First Diplomatic Exchange of World War II".
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