Densho Digital Archive - Minoru Yasui Interview (denshovh-yminoru-01-0009)

<Begin Segment 9>

Q: What was the Japanese American Citizens League's reaction towards your violation of the curfew?

MY: Well, I don't think the Japanese American Citizens League met to consider the issue. However, Mike Masaoka was the field secretary and executive for the JACL. His position was that at the time of these particular orders were being issued, that the JACL and the Japanese American community would cooperate fully with the military in order to show their loyalty to these United States. I have no disagreement with that particular position, however, he felt that anyone who violated any order would make it more difficult for the Japanese American community. I then think and I think now that he's absolutely wrong. That the reservation of rights certainly was a obligation that we owed, certainly as an American citizen, as a lawyer, and as a person who believed in these United States. As a matter of fact, Mike got a little rough, he was talking about self-styled martyrs, and I resented it and obviously disagreed with it. I proceeded with my case despite the opposition from JACL. On the other hand, I didn't ask the JACL for any support or help. I do know that the San Francisco people in the Topaz camp and in Minidoka did assist me, both financially and morally and so far as indicating they were willing to support me in every way possible. I think one of the funniest things is that the market gang, the market group who worked in produce was generally a rough, tough bunch of guys. And to some degree I was held up as a hero among the market gang, and consequently I had no problems either at the North Portland Assembly Center or at Minidoka, because indeed I was challenging the legality and validity of the military orders. But so far as the JACL officially is concerned, they took the position that no test case should be started back in 1942, that they reserved the right to test the legality of evacuation at a later time. As a lawyer, I can tell you that unless you protest the time that the injury is done, you've waived your right to protest. Therefore I disagreed completely with Mike Masaoka.

Q: What, what's your reaction to the feeling that the Japanese American Citizens League could have taken a much stronger stand?

MY: I think it's a bunch of poppycock, because there's no question that there was no power other than the executive heads of the army and the War Department, the Department of Justice, and indeed, the President of the United States that could have reversed the trend. There was an overwhelming sentiment to evacuate all persons of Japanese ancestry, and certainly the JACL or any other organization, in my opinion, could have done nothing or very little to prevent the evacuation of persons of Japanese ancestry. I'm convinced of that.

Q: What about the sense, I mean, of helplessness?

MY: Oh, that, no question. As far as the evacuation is concerned, we were caught in a situation where we were absolutely helpless. We had to conform to military orders, and those who protested were summarily arrested and detained and sent off to other places. And so there was no question that it was impossible to mount a mass protest at the time. The other thing that needs to be considered, I talked about being escorted into Portland, Oregon, under armed guard. Sure, we could have protested there in Hood River, Oregon, but those guys with machine guns could have opened off and not only killed me, but anyone who was standing around. So if you think of these kinds of consequences, obviously when they're confronted with armed force, you're gonna obey.

[Interruption]

MY: Too many people think JACL could have done something. JACL, in my opinion, could have done nothing.

Q: But it just seems to terribly unfortunate that there's not a lot of open discussion on that issue --

MY: I'll discuss it anytime with anybody at any time.

Q: -- that remains, that remains such a big split in communities.

MY: Yeah. The other thing that's really bad is the source of information for a number of arrests and so on. Now, as to that, I can't speak, because I don't know. My record is an open book. So if somebody wants to turn me in as being treacherous and dangerous, fine. So be it, I'll face it. But there evidently was a certain amount of information being passed back and forth. I have no knowledge of this. I don't want to know.

[Interruption]

Q: How did the people in camp feel about the JACL?

MY: Well, basically and overall, I think most of the people agreed with the JACL position, that there was no organization at that time among the Japanese American community could do anything about evacuation. That indeed, the position, the official position that there would be cooperation was helpful. I had no quarrel or argument with that. The only question I had so far as Mike is concerned is the personal references and some of the reservation of rights that seemed to me should have been made more clear. So as far as the camp itself is concerned, particularly North Portland, there was a great deal of undercurrent, some feeling that people who are associated with JACL were taking advantage of inside information in order to be able to get special leave or special privileges. However, as I indicated, I was in North Portland only from May through September, and thereafter at Minidoka from September until November, so I was not in camp during the great "no-no" questionnaire that involved questions 27 and 28. I did return afterwards in 1943 during August, and at that time, things quieted down to a great degree.