MASAOKA BACKS W.R.A. POLICIES

WASHINGTON, July 6,--(AP)--Mike M. Masaoka, former secretary and field executive of the Japanese-American Citizens' League, stoutly championed the War Relocation Authority's policies in handling interned Japs today and told the Dies committee he believed restrictions on the release of Japs from relocation centers should be loosened.

Masaoka, now a private in the United States Army, identified for the committee a report of statements asserted to have been made by an inmate of one of the relocation camps that President Roosevelt "is a damn fool" and "We ought to have enough guts to kill Roosevelt."

The report dealt with a conversation overheard on a train bearing Jap evacuees from the West Coast. Robert Stripling, chief investigator for the committee, said it was made to the Relocation Authority by Karl Yoneda, a leader at the Manzanar relocation camp. The remark about the President was attributed to Juichi Uyemoto, who, Masaoka said he believed, now is in a segregated relocation camp.

Myer Seen as 'Boss'

Masaoka also identified a report containing a suggestion from an unidentified person that the Japanese-American Citizens League make a "deal" with governors of several Western states for voting support in exchange for settlement opportunities for Japs. The suggestion was not taken seriously, he told the committee, and nothing came of it.

Asked whether he believed Mrs. Roosevelt influenced W.R.A. policies, Masaoka said he did not think so but on the contrary believed the policies were formulated by Dillon S. Myer, W.R.A. head, who was called to testify as the last witness in the investigation of Jap activities and W.R.A. policies.

"As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Myer is formulating his own policy and doing a darn good job of it," Masaoka said.

Masaoka said he believed it would be unwise for the Army to administer the relocation centers, adding that it's quite conceivable that there might have been more bloodshed" if the evacuees were put under the Army and subjected to "a strict military rule."

Opposes F.B.I. Check

Masaoka was asked if he knew whether Pearl Buck, the writer, had sought the aid of Madame Chiang Kai-shek in handling the Japanese-American problem. He told the committee he preferred to discuss that in executive session.

While favoring some kind of a check-up on Japs released from the camps, he said, he felt that the Federal Bureau of Investigation check was unnecessary in dealing with Americans of Jap ancestry and the present system of releases was "too slow and too cumbersome."

Masaoka said the J.A.C.L. had conducted a campaign to defeat a bill by Senator Stewart, Democrat, "Tennessee, calling for the sending of all Japanese nationals and Japanese of American birth to relocation centers. He suggested segregation be used only in the cases of known pro-Japanese elements and Japs who repeatedly have caused trouble, and favored expeditious release of those whose loyalty was not in doubt.