WAR RELOCATION AUTHORITY
Room 234, Atlas Building
Salt Lake City 1, Utah
August 27, 1943
MEMORANDUM
TO: Evacuees on Seasonal Leave
FROM: H. REX LEE, Supervisor, Pacific Inter-Mountain Area.
Attached to this memorandum are two very important memorandums from our Washington Office, (1) Instructions to evacuees on seasonal leave and (2) An announcement concerning the segregation program. As there have been some very important changes in leave regulations and WRA policies you should become thoroughly acquainted with the information contained in these memoranda.
There are some things which are of particular importance to evacuees in this area with which we would appreciate your becoming familiar. Also, please advise all your friends who for one reason or other have failed to get this memorandum.
1. Conversion of Seasonal to Indefinite Leave. It is the desire of WRA to convert seasonal leave to indefinite leave as rapidly as possible for all evacuees, provided (a) the evacuee has a bonafide offer of reasonably continuous employment and/or he has proven by his work and conduct while in seasonal leave that he is capable of adjusting himself to the community life where he desires to go and has the initiative to find steady employment; (b) conditions in the community where he desires to settle are such that the release of additional evacuees will not cause an unemployment or housing problem or will be met with adverse community sentiment.
There are certain areas in this region where large evacuee populations are now located and this office does not recommend that you try to find employment there. Those areas are Northern Utah, Malheur County, Oregon, and to a certain degree, Spokane, Washington. Considering all factors we suggest that you plan on accepting jobs in the Mid-West and East at the close of the present harvest season. Offers of permanent employment from these areas will be sent to your Relocation Officer this fall. To facilitate your permanent placement rather than a return to your center we are attaching an application for employment which you should fill out and send to your Relocation Officer. He in turn will send it to the place you desire to relocate so that a job might be found for you. We are also attaching an address card which you should fill out and mail immediately.
Unfortunately, because of changes in clearance procedure, there has been some difficulty in obtaining indefinite leave clearance for those who left the project prior to the registration in February, 1943. If you are one of those cases, see your Relocation Officer and he will straighten out your case and assist you in obtaining indefinite leave.
2. Travel of evacuees on seasonal leave is limited by the leave regulations. Relocation Officers will favorably consider requests which are of an emergency nature or are justified from the standpoint of relocation. However, evacuees should obey war-time requirements and travel as little as possible. All Americans have been asked not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary. Relocation Officers will be governed by this in granting travel permits.
3. Identification. Evacuees should always carry their identification papers such as draft card and leave permit, if alien, also your alien registration book. If you travel outside your assigned area you must carry your W.R.A. special travel permit; aliens should also carry their U.S. Attorney's travel permit.
4. Male evacuees of draft age are required by law to keep the local Selective Service Board with which they are registered informed of any change in their address and carry their classification card (DSS Form 57) on their person at all times. The police and F.B.I. are picking up persons who have classification cards (DSS Form 57) which are so old as to indicate that the bearers have not kept their local boards informed as to their address.
5. Women of Japanese Ancestry are not eligible for the WAC. Requirements are: They must be American citizens, between the ages of 20 and 50, at least 57 inches tall, and weight at least 95 pounds. Women wishing to join may apply at any regular army recruiting station.
6. The WRA has endeavored to keep the regulations governing seasonal leave to the bare minimum considered necessary for your own good and that of the Relocation Program. In general, seasonal workers in this area have cooperated exceptionally well in following the few regulations which do exist. However, there have been a few evacuees who have flagrantly violated regulations to the detriment of the evacuee population as a whole. Relocation Officers in this area will not tolerate such violations and have been instructed to take necessary action against willful violators.
7. Speak English at all times. Nothing will attract the attention and distrust of local people more than the hearing of a foreign language in war time. When negotiating with employers, the worst thing you can do is to speak to each other in Japanese so the employer cannot understand what you are saying to each other. Avoid congregating in large groups while in town. Don't complain about war inconveniences and be sure that you obey war time rationing and other restrictions. Avoid loitering on streets or in bars or pool rooms when everyone else is out working. Remember that the impression you create by your work and conduct affects the future of many evacuees as well as yourself.
8. Seasonal working conditions in most areas are usually difficult. This is especially true in war time when materials are hard to get and both employer and employee are overworked and under wartime strain. If the job or living conditions are not what you expected, try to make the best of if and don't give up. If you feel the employer is not treating you fairly, discuss your problems with him in a friendly way. If this fails stay on the job until your Relocation Officer can come out to assist you. Remember that your actions will either pave the way for many of your friends or close off many jobs and other opportunities. The excellent work and conduct of the evacuees who first came out on seasonal leave in this area last year are largely responsible for the nation-wide leave program we have today and the excellent reputation evacuees have in many sections. Your actions will determine whether favorable public acceptance can continue to be built up and maintained.