DE WITT FIGHTS RETURN OF JAPS

SAN FRANCISCO, April 13.--(AP)--"A Jap's a Jap," and "it makes no difference whether he is an American citizen or not," Lieut. Gen. John L. De Witt said today in opposing emphatically "the sentiment developing to bring back some of the Japanese to the West Coast."

The commanding general of the Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, in testifying before the House naval affairs subcommittee, said, "I don't want any of them. We got them out. They were a dangerous element. The West Coast is too vital and too vulnerable to take any chances."

De Witt told the subcommittee there were only eight Japanese in his command--seven in the Federal Communications Commission as translators and one in the immigration department as an interpreter--and that he was opposing "by every means I can" the "sentiment that Japanese-Americans should return" to the Coast.

An estimated 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, some American citizens, were removed to relocation centers from the western coastal areas last year. Two cases, which challenge the legality of parts of the control and exclusion orders relating to Japanese, now are before the United States Supreme Court.

De Witt said he "couldn't say as to any particular element" which might be pressing for the release of Japanese, but that "there are constant requests concerning individuals." Regarding those who are American citizens, the general said: "You can't change him (a Japanese) by giving him a piece of paper."