CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
NEW YORK 7, N.Y.
April 21, 1944.
Hon. Harold L. Ickes
Secretary of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
Dear Harold:
I want to make very clear that the bringing in of Japanese to New York City is creating a very dangerous situation. As I wrote you on April 11, 1944, this ought to be stopped at once. Several hundred have already been brought in. Is there one single solitary United States official who will vouch for each and every one of them?
They are brought here because the States from which they came, Washington, Oregon and California, refuse to take them back or to permit you to send them back. New York City is the most important port of embarkation on the Atlantic Coast. Yet they are being dumped here. Nobody knows them. No one can vouch for each of them. If it was necessary to evacuate them from their homes originally and put them in a concentration camp, what justification is there for turning them loose in Eastern cities at this time. If Washington, Oregon and California do not want them, what right has the Federal Government in placing them in New York City.
You know that we are short of personnel in the Police Department. This is adding to our problem. If anything happens, the responsibility is not with the city. The responsibility will be with the Federal Government. The other day I was given assurance that only twenty were on their way. Since that time 200 have come in. I again want to plead that the relocation insofar as New York City is concerned be stopped at once. I may find it necessary to require full and complete identification as well as guaranty of loyalty of each and every one of these Japanese that have been brought here. This will bring it to a head and then if the United States Courts will liberate them and if anything happens, those responsible for creating the situation will be answerable.
It was only on assurance that the number would not be increased that I refrained from taking action. I am watching the situation and will have to proceed right soon.
Sincerely yours,
/s/
Mayor