Keep Them Away From Here

Pacific Coast residents need not apologize for approving the demand of the Dies committee, or of any other group, that Japanese-American soldiers be ordered to stay away from the coastal areas.

The committee's demand was prompted by the incident of the three Japanese inductees and the cameras at Sumner. How serious that matter was has not been disclosed by the Army. It may have had little importance in itself.

But it served to show that Japanese-Americans in uniform are likely to fall under all manner of suspicions if they are given full liberty to visit coastal areas on furlough. More often than not, the suspicions will be unjustified. All the more reason why these young men should be spared unpleasantness.

If Japanese-born American soldiers do not have the sense to stay away from the coast themselves, the Army should supply that lack.