Decision to incarcerate | Densho Digital Repository

doc Memo to John J. McCloy from Dwight Eisenhower (ddr-densho-67-67)

Memo to John J. McCloy from Dwight Eisenhower on Hawaiian-Japanese evacuation plans. States that evacuation and detention "in a concentration camp" has been approved, including "enemy aliens" and U.S. citizens.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-67/

doc Letter to General DeWitt from Gov. E. P. Carville about Japanese evacuation (ddr-densho-67-72)

Letter to General DeWitt from Gov. E. P. Carville about Japanese evacuation. Gov. Carville is concerned that the "enemy aliens" would be let loose in his state. He would allow Japanese in his state only if they were put in "concentration camps."

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-72/

doc Memo from Lt. Hall to John McCloy (ddr-densho-67-53)

Memo from Lt. Hall to John McCloy on possible consequences of evacuating and repatriating Hawaiian Japanese. Namely that they will either come into contact with enemy spies on the mainland or they will go back to Japan with crucial information. Suggests waiting four months before evacuating and repatriating and after that confining them to "concentration camps." ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-53/

doc Memo from Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Secretary of War (ddr-densho-67-13)

Memo regarding the encouraging of Americanization in the Army. FDR states separate, race-based battalions or units should be formed on a case-by-case basis, and limited to cases where political advantages are to be gained.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-13/

doc Letter by John L. DeWitt: "Separation of Kibei from Nisei" (ddr-densho-67-26)

Letter written by John. L. DeWitt, Lieutenant General U.S. Army, to Chief of Staff, U.S. Army. Recommends the segregation of Kibei and Issei from Nisei, and steps taken toward the eventual repatriation of some of the Kibei and Issei.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-26/

doc Letter to Governor Herbert Lehman from President Roosevelt (ddr-densho-67-95)

Letter to New York Governor Herbert Lehman from President Roosevelt on Italians and Germans in the U.S. In response to a letter from Lehman, Roosevelt assures him that there will be no evacuation of German or Italian aliens/Americans.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-95/

doc Memo regarding DeWitt's Final Report (ddr-densho-67-114)

Memo from Edward Ennis to Paul Freund on DeWitt's Final Report. Ennis does not want the government to use the report to justify internment because of all the false statements in it.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-114/

doc Letter by John L. DeWitt: "Separation of Kibei from Nisei" (ddr-densho-67-28)

Letter written by J.L. DeWitt, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Urges segregation of the Kibei and Issei from the Nisei in the concentration camps, citing deteriorating morale in the camps and influence of "disloyal" sentiment.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-28/

doc Letter from Commander John Ford to Frank Knox about the Japanese in Hawaii (ddr-densho-67-47)

Letter from Commander John Ford to Frank Knox about the Japanese in Hawaii. He warns about the infiltration of "disloyals" and stresses the failure of the FBI and military in controlling the situation. Also mentions the Big Five's dependence on skilled Japanese labor. Knox forwards this to President Roosevelt urging him to consider evacuating all Japanese ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-47/

doc Memo from Dillon Myer to Secretary of War Henry Stimson (ddr-densho-67-78)

Memo from Dillon Myer to Secretary of War Henry Stimson regarding DeWitt's Final Report. Myer summarizes DeWitt's reoprt, focusing on his justifications of military necessity: illicit communications and ship-to-shore signaling. Quotes parts of DeWitt's report where he discusses the threat of the Japanese on the West Coast. In summary, Myer suggests that the decision to evacuate ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-78/

doc Letter from Col. William Scobey to Dillon Myer (ddr-densho-67-56)

Letter from Col. William Scobey to Dillon Myer regarding Gen. Emmons' response to halting evacuation of Hawaiian Japanese to the mainland. Emmons agreed to suspend evacuation except for those who "would be considered safe" in the mainland. Emmons also states that the response to the all-nisei team was favorable and projects 10,000 nisei volunteers. He suggests ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-56/

doc Letter titled: "General Sabotage" (ddr-densho-67-37)

Letter from James Hughes, Captain, M.I.D. Intelligence Officer. States that an informant of Japanese ancestry gave information that there would be a signal given for a general wave of sabotage participated in by Germans, Italians, and Japanese.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-37/

doc Memo to Mr. M.H. McIntyre from M.S. Eisenhower (ddr-densho-67-70)

Memo to Mr. M.H. McIntyre from M.S. Eisenhower about letters protesting evacuation. States that the President is receiving many notices from liberal groups questioning the legality of evacuation.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-70/

doc Memo to Col. Karl Bendetsen from David J. McFadden (ddr-densho-67-61)

Memo to Col. Karl Bendetsen from David J. McFadden on the existing Hawaiian-Japanese evacuation program. Suggests not evacuating Japanese for a number of reasons: evacuation would "cripple" the Hawaiian economy, lack of resources, etc. Suggests small-scale evacuation for people matching certain criteria -- this would be a "token evacuation" to satisfy those who strongly advocated for ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-61/

doc Memo from J.R. Deane to John McCloy (ddr-densho-67-50)

Memo from J.R. Deane to John McCloy officially rescinding the previous order to evacuate Hawaiian Japanese to the mainland. This new order states that any person of Japanese ancestry "considered as potentially dangerous to national security" will be interned in Hawaii.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-50/

doc Memo from William P. Scobey to Dillon Myer (ddr-densho-67-54)

Memo from William P. Scobey to Dillon Myer summarizing a previous message sent to General Delos Emmons about evacuating Hawaiian Japanese. Outlines four major problems with evacuation to the mainland, including legal complications, lack of resources, and potential for tensions between Hawaiian and mainland Japanese. Advises Emmons to reconsider evacuation program.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-54/

doc Memo Re: General DeWitt's report on the Japanese evacuation (ddr-densho-67-75)

Memo from Francis Biddle to Harold Ickes on DeWitt's Final Report. Biddle informs Ickes that parts of DeWitt's report have been refuted by the Federal Communications Commission. Suggests that the information the government received about ship-to-shore signaling and other sabotage was inaccurate.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-75/

doc Memo from General Emmons to John McCloy (ddr-densho-67-51)

Memo from General Emmons to John McCloy on nisei in the military. Gives statistics on Nisei in the military in Hawaii and suggests that even though they stopped accepting Nisei in the military creating an all-Nisei combat unit would improve security issues in Hawaii. Emmons says that 300 Nisei already volunteered, an indication of potential success ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-51/

doc Memo: "Summary of Report on Loyal West Coast Japanese" (ddr-densho-67-8)

Memorandum from John Franklin Carter summarizing Curtis Munson's reports regarding the Japanese Americans on the West Coast.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-8/

doc Memo to Francis Biddle from Congressman Ward Johnson (ddr-densho-67-128)

Memo to Francis Biddle from California Congressman Ward Johnson urging immediate incarceration of Japanese Americans.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-128/

doc Letter to President Roosevelt from Elmer Davis (ddr-densho-67-82)

Letter to President Roosevelt from Elmer Davis. Davis suggests that President Roosevelt publicly respond to allegations that the war is racial. Also suggests that the President open voluntary enlistment to the evacuees. Seems concerned about Japanese propaganda in Asia, which also calls the war a "racial war." Davis urges the President to consider intelligence reports of ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-82/

doc Letter from Col. William Scobey to Gen. Delos Emmons (ddr-densho-67-55)

Letter from Col. William Scobey to Gen. Delos Emmons on the status of Japanese Americans on mainland. Discusses failure of voluntary induction in the army due to "resentment" and "anti-American" kibei and issei. Mentions segregation of loyals and disloyals as not happening because of lack of space. Suggests to Emmons that these complications have prevented evacuation ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-55/

doc Report: "A War-Time Problem: The Japanese in Hawaii" (ddr-densho-67-63)

Extensive report based mainly on observations and U.S. census materials. Argues that Japanese are a threat to military security in Hawaii and something must be done to handle the situation. Presents a number of facts that he thinks support this, analyzes these facts, and suggests possible plans. These include total evacuation of certain areas, creation of ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-63/

doc Letter from the FCC to Francis Biddle (ddr-densho-67-76)

Letter from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Francis Biddle on radio signaling as described in DeWitt's Final Report. The FCC reviewed their records and found that there was no evidence of any illegal signaling during Dec. 1941 - July 1942. The FCC also refuted two other things that DeWitt told Biddle justifying evacuation - the ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-76/

doc Letter from Francis Biddle to Henry Stimson (ddr-densho-67-99)

Letter from Francis Biddle to Henry Stimson discussing possibility of evacuation. Biddle states that the Department of Justice has no authority to evacuate American citizens and legal problems could arise if the army chooses to evacuate. Urges Stimson to consider his suggestions before he makes a decision.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-67-99/