Immediate Decision Needed On Handling of Enemy Aliens

The question of what disposition to make of the enemy aliens along the Pacific Coast should be settled without further delay.

The responsibility of making the decision, of course, rests with the federal government and military authorities. But they must not postpone action too long.

If the resident aliens are in fact a threat to the security of the Pacific Coast area, to the defense industries, military installations and the civilian populace, there is no point in giving them time to accomplish hostile designs.

The fall of Singapore, releasing enemy legions to rove further around the globe for rapine and conquest, heightens the need for prompt action, if the presence of enemy aliens here constitutes a real threat.

There are lesser, but also important considerations. The time is almost at hand when truck farming operations must begin for the season. The Pacific Coast's truck farms are largely operated by Japanese nationals.

Until the question of their disposition is decided, these spring farming operations will be delayed. Either the Japanese farmers should be assured they will remain on the soil, or other arrangements to operate the truck farms should be made.

There would be little to gain in leaving thousands of Jap farmers on these farms for the sake of a crop of vegetables, if their continued presence there would constitute a menace from other points of view. We could get along without the vegetables, if it came to that.

Every consideration emphasizes the importance of settling of the matter promptly. If the aliens are to be removed to inland states, they should be evacuated immediately.