proposed testimony of --
Dr. Thomas Scott
________
Seattle 98111

I've been a Management Consultant to business institutions and financial organizations in the US Europe and the South Pacific. I've taught Business Management and finance on the graduate level at universities in the US and UK.

Presidential Executive Order 9066 (19 Feb 1942) was issued at the instigation of Lt Gen John J DeWitt Commanding General of the Western Defense Command and Commanding General Fourth Army (Presidio of San Francisco).

At that time I was on active military duty as the most junior officer of Fourth Army. I accepted the resulting internment of Japanese-Americans and the confiscation of their property without questioning its justification. I trusted the judgment of those responsible.

Having just recently seen Executive Order 9066 for the first time I find it impossible to reconcile its contents with the resulting internment and taking of property imposed by Western Defense Command on Japanese-American citizens even allowing for the excesses of wartime hysteria.

The Pacific Defense Command (Honolulu) took no such action. The Attorney General of the United States argued against taking such measures. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Chief saw no justification for it.

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco reported more (property was confiscated (in terms of 1942 dollars). Less than 10% of this amount was ever returned to the owners.

The amount unreturned in terms of 1981 dollars exceeds $2.6 Billion.

My first questions concerning the treatment afforded Japanese-Americans started shortly after elements of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team joined the military campaign in Italy on line with the Artillery unit I commanded.

These Japanese-Americans had the most exceptional and outstanding record of any unit in World War II. It's fame and respect extended across battle lines.

With family and friends imprisoned and with their property and possessions confiscated they volunteered to fight for the country they owed their allegiance and loyalty. And their sacrifices reflected the loyalty of the segment of our population they represented.

The Japanese-Americans are a highly motivated energetic industrious modest group who are and always have been a credit to the United States.

They exhibit the characteristics we'd like all US citizens to possess - reliable diligent honest studious hard working dependable law abiding achievers.

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For years the Japanese-American segment of our population suffered totally unjustified slander and indignation from the post-war movies. Later these movies were shown on television - then the replays.

Young impressionable Japanese-Americans were subjected to this indignity for fifteen or more years without protest or complaint.

In the emotional hysteria of wartime and for a long time afterward a great injustice was done to just one small segment of our population.

The victims didn't complain. I know of no other group who might have suffered in silence for so long.

I recommend and urge that this injustice be rectified.

Let's correct even at this late date these imprudent inappropriate ill-advised unfair acts as completely as fully and as best we can.

No matter what we do now it can't be more than token compensation for the unjust imprisonment the indignation and suffering and the property losses endured for so long.