World War II Civilian Exchange Program Between U.S. and Japan Detailed in New Historical Account

A new book titled 'Safe Passage' by Evelyn Iritani documents the 1942 diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Japan to exchange civilians during World War II. The exchange involved ships like the Japanese vessel Asama Maru and the Swedish liner M.S. Gripsholm, which transported officials, journalists, missionaries, and others from Japanese-occupied territories to neutral African ports for trade with Japanese civilians from the Americas. U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. Grew played a key role in the tense negotiations, which faced last-minute threats of cancellation. The operation aimed to secure the release of over 10,000 Americans held by Japan, though many faced imprisonment and harsh treatment beforehand. The book reveals the complex personal choices and diplomatic challenges surrounding these wartime exchanges.