Title: "Jap Tule Lake Riot Described," Seattle Times, 1/8/1905, (ddr-densho-56-989)
Densho ID: ddr-densho-56-989

JAP TULE LAKE RIOT DESCRIBED

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.--(UP)--Japanese-American internees at the Tule Lake, Calif., segregation center were threatened by their leaders with death unless they joined the demonstration no November 1 which led to a riot, the former senior medical officer at the center said today.

Dr. John T. Mason told a Dies subcommittee that a Japanese-American girl in the center's hospital had told him that between 6,000 and 10,000 internees had been warned the "join" the crowd "or die."

Mason charged earlier that Dillon S. Myer, War Relocation Authority director, made no immediate effort to investigate the disturbance during which Dr. Reece Petticord, the chief physician, had been "badly beaten," and that Myer cautioned staff doctors to "be careful because this might cause an international incident."

Whites Held Prisoner

Describing the demonstration which occurred on November 1 and which was now led to demands for permanent Army control of the center for disloyal Japanese-Americans, Mason said:

"They packed in tight around the building, they formed tight semi-circles around the doors, they flattened their noses against the windows; to of them with knives chiseled at the window sashes.

"We all felt at the mercy of these people.

"During the four and a half to five hours on November 1 that most of the white personnel of the camp were virtually held prisoners in the building a 17-man delegation of the Japanese was presenting demands on Myer and Camp Director Ray Best demands which were halted only by news of continuing attacks on the camp medical staff."

The November 1 incident ended about 4:45 p.m., Dr. Mason said, and Myer told staff physicians to "be careful because this might cause an international incident." He quoted Myer as saying:

"'You see Dr. Petticord is not hurt. This doesn't amount to anything.'"

Mason was angered by Myer's remark. He told the committee:

"I said, 'Here's my chief lying here. Don't you remember December 7, 1941? that was an international incident, and this is war.'"

Myer, he said, did not reply.