Harpers Magazine (Harper & Bros. Publishers), vol. 185, no. 1108, September 1942

THE JAPANESE IN AMERICA
THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION

BY AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER

On February 19, 1942, the President authorized the Army to exclude any person, alien or citizen, from any area on the West Coast, as military necessity might require. By May 31st some 112,000 Japanese had been moved from their homes to a series of assembly centers -- usually race tracks, parks, or fair grounds -- scattered up and down the West Coast. Here they are now confined, pending their removal to permanent relocation sites selected by the War Relocation Authority. This agency was set up on March 19th for the express purpose of preparing and overseeing permanent resettlement centers. A number of sites have been selected in Arizona, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Arkansas. Four of the relocation centers have been completed and the Japanese have been moved in. The majority, however, on August 1st were still at the race-track camps. The projects are large scale in character and each will accommodate 10,000 or more persons.

With the exception of those who are already in the custody of the Federal authorities as individually suspect, these 112,000 Japanese represent the West Coast Japanese population, including the Japanese from southern Arizona. Young and old, lame and able-bodied, loyal and disloyal are all herded together; when moved to the relocation sites they will still be herded together. Some of them are aliens, some are American citizens, some have sons serving in the American Army. Many have had to give up homes and possessions. Owing to the necessity for quick action, the innocent had to suffer with the guilty. As Mr. McWilliams pointed out in our September issue, the Army has done a magnificent job of moving them to the assembly centers. But what is to be the eventual disposition of these people? Many of them are fellow-citizens of ours, educated in American schools, trained in American businesses and professions. Many of them who are not citizens themselves have children who are. What purpose is served by having their loyalty to the United States hammered and buffeted?

The situation is complicated and difficult. Public opinion on the Coast has been inflamed by appeals to prejudice and fear. On the one hand, it is impossible to turn loose persons about whose loyalty there is doubt; on the other hand, the virtual internment of innocent and loyal people is intolerable. Democratic freedom in these times is sufficiently jeopardized as it is. It is even worse to pen up the loyal Japanese with those who are at heart our enemies. Already there has been trouble between the two groups; the loyal ones have been taunted with the charge of being suckers for trusting the United States and taking patriotism seriously. Furthermore, we need the enthusiasm and the spirited support of those persons of Japanese [incomplete]