The Secretary of State presents his compliments to the Honorable the
Minister of Sweden in charge of Japanese interests in the Territory
of Hawaii and refers to a note dated December 31, 1942,86 setting
[Page 1107] forth certain
complaints of the Japanese Government concerning the treatment
alleged to have been accorded Japanese civilians interned in the
Territory of Hawaii.
Investigation of these complaints has now been completed and there is
transmitted herewith a statement embodying the findings of the
investigation. The paragraphs of the enclosed statement are numbered
to correspond with the numbered paragraphs of the communication from
the Japanese Government which formed the enclosure to the Legation’s
note under reference.
[Enclosure]
Statement Prepared in the Department of
State
Alinea (1)—Regarding alleged handcuffing and
overcrowding. A report from the military authorities in
Hawaii indicates that in no instance was it found necessary to
use handcuffs during the apprehension and transportation of
Japanese internees to custody. The internees, once in custody,
were afforded living quarters in compliance with basic United
States Army Regulations covering the housing of soldiers which
take into consideration elements of health, ventilation, and
comfort. Suitable toilet facilities were furnished and exercise
periods were allowed. The internees were fed in a roofed
inclosure and were not subjected to the elements as alleged in
Alinea (1).
With reference to the alleged overcrowding of civilian internees,
it is believed that the communication from the Japanese
Government refers to the arrival on the West Coast at one time
of a group of 161 civilian internees. This group was temporarily
held while awaiting processing in a bedroom with 192 beds and
was fed in a new mess hall seating 250 persons.
Alinea (2)—Regarding compelling civilian
internees to work. A full report on the treatment of
Japanese internees at Sand Island Detention Camp, Territory of
Hawaii, shows that within the first few weeks after December 7,
1941, a large number of aliens was taken into custody. Action
had to be taken immediately to “tent” them adequately until
permanent housing could be constructed. Japanese civilian
internees were instructed to erect and align their tents.
Similar instructions were given to other internees. No order was
given, as far as is known, that Japanese should erect the tents
of Germans and Italians. It was the policy of the Commanding
Officer of the Sand Island Detention Camp never to order
Japanese to perform labor for German or Italian internees, or
vice versa.
[Page 1108]
Pursuant to a request made of the leaders of Japanese internees,
a number of young Japanese willingly assisted in the
construction of a fence around their inclosures.
The laundry was made available to Japanese internees in January
1942, for their use in laundering their own bed linen and
clothing. They occasionally voluntarily assisted in doing the
laundry of American Army personnel. Later, when the laundry was
operated by the Quartermaster of the United States Army,
internee labor, including Japanese, was employed at the rate of
eighty cents per day. These work groups were selected by their
own group leaders.
Permission to raise vegetables was given as a considerate gesture
to enable the Japanese, who desired fresh vegetables, to supply
themselves therewith. Implements and seeds were furnished. The
internees furnished the labor and there was never any
understanding or order that they were raising vegetables for
American troops. Apparently on some occasions when crops of
certain vegetables were greater than needed by the internees,
the internees themselves offered the excess vegetables to the
troops.
Before funds were available for the payment of internee labor,
there may have been instances of gratuitous labor but such work
was performed voluntarily and not under force or as the result
of a direct order. However, when funds were available, payments
were made for all work performed and a three dollars monthly
allowance was granted each internee retroactively to the date of
initial interment. In those cases in which internees were
transferred to the Mainland prior to the inauguration of
payments to internees, they were later credited with the amounts
due up to the time of their departure from the Sand Island
Detention Camp.
Alinea (3)—Concerning search of internees.
Upon arrival at camp, the clothing and baggage of internees were
completely searched. All valuables were taken from them, listed
and a receipt given, signed by the internees and the receiving
officer. Any article which might have been considered a possible
lethal weapon was confiscated. When any group of Japanese was
transferred to the Mainland, its members were searched again
before leaving camp to assure that no forbidden articles were
taken aboard ship. All personal valuables except money were
returned upon departure of the internees for the Mainland.
Concerning Money. In Hawaii, funds
received from internees or donations to internees, were
deposited in a Hawaiian bank and books were set up to show the
amounts credited to each internee. Upon transfer to the Mainland
the money was forwarded to the Provost Marshal General,
Washington, D.C., for credit to the internee’s account at the
Mainland internment camp to which he was transferred. [Page 1109] It is reported that
a total of $26,679.65 of internee funds was forwarded to
Washington. It is possible that some internees were
inconvenienced because of lack of funds upon arrival on the
Mainland before their funds were received and made
available.
Alinea (4)—Concerning alleged mistreatment
during transfer to the Mainland. During the transfer of
civilian Internees from Hawaii to the Mainland they were
provided adequate accommodations and were not restricted by wire
netting or any other similar device. Toilets, in all cases, were
furnished within the rooms or were readily accessible.
Accommodations given internees were superior to those furnished
either the ship’s crew or transit troops. Within the West Coast
area adequate facilities were afforded internees and no
complaints were lodged during any transfer.
The report from the military authorities in Hawaii indicates that
the treatment of Japanese and other persons held in custodial
detention has, since the beginning of hostilities, been marked
by scrupulous observance of treaty obligations and agreements.
Throughout the process of investigation, apprehension and
detention, Japanese civilians were treated humanely and were
protected against violence, insults and public curiosity.
