Ouster of Aliens to Cause Heart-Breaking Problems

Federal officials in Seattle today began hearing of problems that would arise from the removal of all enemy aliens from the Puget Sound region.

Although it has been announced that all alien Japanese, Germans and Italians will be ordered to leave "a large area in Western Washington," no official announcement has been made of the boundaries of the area, or when the removal will start.

There have been indications, however, that Seattle and the entire Puget Sound region will be affected and that the prohibited area will include all Western Washington from the Pacific Ocean to the Cascades.

Refugees Are Problem

One of the most acute problems to arise will be that of German refugees, who, technically, are "enemy aliens." If the Puget Sound area is made of a Class A prohibited area, all enemy aliens, including refugees, as well as older Italians and Germans, who never have taken out citizenship papers, will have to move out.

Enemy aliens were thrown into near panic yesterday when first reports of the removal order were announced. Throughout the day, enemy aliens and their friends telephoned and visited federal officials, asking that exceptions be made in their cases. After the federal offices had closed, officials received telephone calls at their homes.

Many Heart-Sick

"Some of them are very heartsick, and it's easy to understand," said R.P. Bonham, district director of immigration and naturalization. "Last night a woman called me at my home and asked if a Jewish refugee friend of hers would have to leave. I informed her that under existing statutes, refugees of Germany still are nationals, and, consequently, enemy aliens. She wanted to argue about it, but there is nothing I can do.

"I suggest that all enemy aliens have faith that our government will be as humane in the administration of the order as is consistent with the protection of the United States. Getting panicky doesn't help matters at all."

Some German refugees, who had looked upon the United States as the land of justice, are inclined to be bitter.

Aliens 'Vital' in Defense

One of them, a man who is married to an American-born woman and has two children born in this country, remarked that his admiration of America "is being thrown in my face."

Business firms which employ Japanese nationals also were concerned. Ironically, some firms engaged in national-defense work said they employ enemy aliens who are "vital" to their continued operation. Most of the large defense plants, such as Boeing's, will not be affected, however, as only citizens are employed there.

At Vancouver, B.C., it was announced that some of the Japanese being moved from Coast defense areas will be given employment on the Prince George-Jasper Highway and other construction projects. They will be paid 25 cents an hour and will be required to assign $20 monthly to their families.

One hundred Japanese nationals will leave Vancouver tonight for Jasper as the initial step in moving an estimated 1,714 of them from the Coast. Pressure from Parliament members and from Vancouver organizations caused a speed-up in the removal plan.