Churchman Is Threatened For Jap Stand

PORTLAND, Or., Dec. 4.--(UP)--Anonymous phone calls, some of them threatening bodily violence, have been received by the Rev. Dr. H.J. Maulbetsch, president of the Portland Council of Churches, since he signed a council resolution calling for constitutional treatment of Japanese-Americans, he disclosed today.

The council resolution urged that there be no move to deprive Japanese-Americans of rights guaranteed them under the constitution.

This stand is opposite to that of the Hood River American Legion Post, which has announced its opposition to return of Japanese-Americans from inland relocation centers. The post removed the names of 16 Japanese-American soldiers from the county honor roll.

Dr. Maulbetsch said his first anonymous caller, who apparently thought the Portland Council of Churches was some sort of Nazi organization, told the church leader he represented an organization "which knows how to handle snakes" and which is determined that Japanese-Americans shall not return to their Pacific Coast homes and property.