Subject: Counter-Intelligence Report on Recent Developments in Japanese Situation, Twelfth Naval District.
MINORITY GROUPS' REACITONS TO RETURNING JAPANESE
52. The reactions of minority groups to the return of the Japanese has been generally favorable. It is believed that these open manifestations of friendship, which have been expressed at conferences and through the newspapers, by various minority groups, have been the result of the fear that any discrimination against a single Oriental minority group like the Japanese might conceivably be an opening wedge through which discrimination could also be used against their group. Therefore, these groups are protecting themselves by asking for fair play toward the returning Japanese. Some representatives of the other Oriental minorities have complained that the return of the Japanese has caused a fear among their own peoples because of the difficulty in distinguishing the facial differences between themselves and the Japanese. This has brought about proposals to resume wearing identification buttons to inform the public that the wearers of the buttons are not Japanese.
53. The reaction of the Chinese communities to the return of the Japanese has been particularly favorable. A Chinese Christian Youth Conference was held on 11 February 1945 in San Anselmo, California. At that time, a resolution was adopted extending to Americans of Japanese ancestry, a cordial welcome on their return to the West Coast and denouncing the "machinations of the race baiters." It was expected that the strongest opposition to the Japanese would come from the older and more powerful Chinese groups which control the large Chinese community in San Francisco. However, the heads of the Six Companies, the most powerful Chinese group in San Francisco, have urged that the Japanese be treated fairly and that they be allowed to return. The fact that the Chinese have recently been granted citizenship rights in this country possibly is a factor in the apparently restrained attitude of the Chinese toward the Japanese. They may feel that if the Japanese-Americans are deprived of their citizenship the whole problem of Oriental citizenship in this country might be reviewed.
54. The Filipino group is the most unpredictable of the minority groups, although the Filipino leaders have manifested friendship toward the Japanese in their public utterances. Antonio A. GONZALES, representing the Filipino community of the western states, said that "The Filipinos are not fighting the Japanese people but the Japanese system; they are fighting Fascists." Mr. GONZALES also pointed out the Filipinos are denied citizenship and that all minority groups born under the American flag and brought up to American ideals and equality should be granted equal rights in this country. It is admitted, however, even by responsible Filipino leaders, that the actions of the uneducated Filipino masses in this country might conceivably lead to outbreaks against the returning Japanese. They fear that the atrocity stories concerning Japanese behavior in the Philippines against the Filipino population might inspire these Filipinos to seek revenge by attacking Japanese returning to the Coast. Also, many Filipino laborers have replaced Japanese farm laborers and are now making larger salaries than ever before. This source of revenue may be cut off because many of these farms are owned by returning Japanese.
55. Prior to the rescinding of the Exclusion Order, the Koreans had been extremely active against the Japanese. In the past, Kilsoo HAAN has been largely instrumental in race baiting the Japanese on the Pacific Coast. Since the order lifting the ban has been made, he has been relatively silent on the subject, and other responsible Korean leaders have acted to aid the return of the Japanese. Dr. Shunznok L. KIM, a Korean representative, suggested that conference committees be established in communities where all peoples could iron out their problems, including the Japanese-Americans. Several Koreans have received beatings recently because they were mistaken for Japanese, and this has resulted in various Koreans wearing identifying buttons.
56. One of the greatest potential sources of trouble for the returning Japanese will probably be connected with the Negro problem. In nearly all large Pacific Coast communities, Negroes reside on property formerly occupied by the Japanese. However, responsible Negro and Japanese leaders have made it a point to avoid incidents. A reliable informant has stated that in the San Francisco area several Japanese have already returned, thus causing the evacuation of Negroes, but that this has caused no trouble as yet. It has been announced recently that the Japanese hope to use the Kinmon Gakuen (Golden Gate Language School) as a Japanese hostel. This