740.00115 Pacific War/1948a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
2539. American interests—Far East. Legation’s 5076, August 19.87 Alien enemies are interned only when considered dangerous or potentially dangerous. Interned aliens may request rehearings. Rehearings have already resulted in the granting of permission for approximately 1,200 interned Japanese to join their families in relocation centers. Rehearings in additional cases take place regularly.
Those internees who are not released or paroled to live in unrestricted areas or relocation centers may ask to have their families join them in internment camps. Persons who join husbands or fathers in internment camps are not the subject of an internment order but must agree to be subject to the same restrictions as interned persons. Admittance is being granted as fast as satisfactory facilities can be provided. Expansion of facilities now underway is expected in the near future to provide accommodations for all families which desire to be reunited.
Of the uninterned Japanese only those formerly living in restricted areas on the Pacific coast were removed to relocation centers. Family units in these cases were never broken. Residence in a relocation center is in most cases temporary as residents who are believed loyal to the United States are encouraged and expected to settle in unrestricted areas where their safety and well-being are assured. Persons living in unrestricted areas were not moved to a relocation center.