740.00115 Pacific War/1148

The Department of State to the Spanish Embassy

Memorandum

The Department of State refers to memorandum no. 333 dated August 3, 1942, from the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in the continental United States, and to the Department of State’s preliminary reply thereto dated August 24, 1942, concerning the complaints received from the Imperial Japanese Government regarding the treatment of Japanese nationals moved from certain areas in the Pacific coast region of the United States.

It was pointed out in the Department’s preliminary reply that the Japanese nationals moved from areas near the Pacific coast of the United States were moved because of military necessities and for their own protection. The evacuation was carefully planned in order to minimize hardships to individuals, to safeguard their health, and to protect the evacuees’ personal and property interests.

The policy of the United States Government was made known some weeks before the order of evacuation was put into effect. During this time the Japanese were urged to prepare for evacuation, and to conduct their preparations in a calm and unhurried manner. On March 6, 1942, for example, the Commanding General, Western Defense Command and Fourth Army,90 made the following statement to the prospective evacuees:

“Keep your balance, don’t make hasty disposition of your farms, shops, residence or other property; continue your work on your crops until such time as the exclusion of enemy aliens and Japanese-Americans from strategic areas is officially ordered. Exclusion has not yet been ordered.”

No evacuee was forced to dispose of his property or to take any action with regard to his personal or business affairs. If he did choose to dispose of his property or to take other action with regard to his business or personal affairs, he was encouraged to seek the advice of the appropriate governmental agencies and to accept their aid. The Federal Security Agency, the Farm Security Administration, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and other Federal, State, and local agencies cooperated with the Army authorities in seeking a solution of these individual problems. The Farm Security Agency reports that there is much evidence to support the statement that the Japanese who disposed of their assets did so on very satisfactory terms. Representatives of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco conducted 24,257 interviews on general property problems. There was no confiscation of property and as a result of these efforts, little loss [Page 1068] through sale. The courts remained open to Japanese nationals at all times.

The United States Public Health Service found that the general health of the entire group was very good, although 9,484 persons were given treatment in connection with the evacuation program. The American Red Cross has reported that the medical care, health, and sanitary aspects of the Japanese assembly centers represent an outstanding achievement considering the difficulties under which the evacuation was undertaken.

The evacuees were first removed to assembly centers where their sojourn was temporary. All assembly centers have now been closed and the persons evacuated have moved to relocation centers where facilities of a more permanent nature have been provided for their use. It should be pointed out that at no time have these persons been interned.

In its memorandum of March 3 [5], 1943, to the Spanish Embassy in charge of Japanese interests in the continental United States, the Department of State informed the Embassy the number of Japanese nationals residing in the several relocation centers.91

The ten relocation centers which have been established are at sites which were selected after consideration of over 300 proposed locations, of which 100 were given careful field investigation by trained soil scientists, engineers, economists, geologists, and agronomists. Each site selected meets the following minimum requirements:

1.
It contains not less than 5,500 acres in a single block;
2.
It contains a substantial acreage capable of producing agricultural products;
3.
It is located in a climate which is suitable for human habitation and the growing of agricultural crops;
4.
It is provided with an adequate supply of pure water;
5.
It is close to an electric power line and good railroad and highway transportation facilities;
6.
It is free from flood hazards;
7.
It is so located that conditions are favorable for installing a sanitary sewage disposal system; and
8.
It is free from any conditions that might adversely affect human health.

Perhaps the best evidence that environmental factors are favorable at each site is the fact that there are prosperous and populous communities near each project.

The Japanese in the relocation centers are assured of their food and shelter and of their personal safety. Food, shelter, medical care, and educational facilities are available to all, whether they accept the opportunity of employment offered to them or not. This employment [Page 1069] is often in agricultural pursuits, but other employment is available for those evacuees who have special talents. Persons with professional training in medicine, law, dentistry, and teaching, for example, are permitted to continue the practice of their professions. Factories for the manufacture of furniture and clothing have been established and barbers, beauticians, and others who render similar services may follow the lines of endeavor for which they are trained. Evacuees who are skilled painters, carpenters, plumbers, and electricians are offered employment in maintenance work at the centers. Reasonable compensation is paid for all labor performed. Moreover, persons not voluntarily unemployed may upon application receive unemployment compensation, and public assistance grants are available to unemployed adults, to children under sixteen, and to families with inadequate incomes.

It is not intended that the Japanese who were originally moved to relocation centers must remain there for the duration of hostilities. Those who desire may apply for permission to leave the centers for either an indefinite or a temporary period to reside in non-restricted areas. A considerable number of permits for such residence have already been granted and it is anticipated that a large number of evacuees will take advantage of the opportunity to leave the relocation centers.

The United States Government in executing its program for the evacuation of persons of Japanese race from certain areas on the Pacific coast was careful to see that everything which was done exceeded the standards set up by the Geneva Convention of 1929 relative to the treatment of prisoners of war even though the evacuees were not interned. Moreover, the officials of the United States Government charged with the execution of the program have been mindful of the dignity of the individual and have tried at all times to minimize the hardships which the evacuation might cause.

  1. Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt.
  2. Memorandum not printed; it stated the number of such Japanese nationals was 37,111 (740.00115 Pacific War/1388).