Commandant's Office
ELEVENTH NAVAL DISTRICT
San Diego, California

ND11/EF37/A8-5(Evac)
(A8-B7-0 JHB-meb)
Serial DIO-7049

December 9, 1942

MEMORANDUM

From: The District Intelligence Officer.
To: The Director of Naval Intelligence.

Subject: Japanese Relocation Centers, Activities of Inmates.

Enclosure: (A) Press Notices, California papers. (Omitted)

1. From time to time this District Intelligence Office has forwarded to the Director of Naval Intelligence information as to the serious anti-American and pro-Japanese activities carried out within the relocation camps at Poston, Arizona, and Manzanar, California. The information has been obtained from informants within these camps and believed to be reliable. The open riot in Manzanar rioted in local newspapers substantiates the information.

2. The District Intelligence Officer feels that it is his serious responsibility to inform the Director of Naval Intelligence that unless the Government takes proper steps in the administration of these camps, grave results affecting the war effort of this country may be expected.

3. It must be assumed that with all the Japanese in the West Coast area being taken into custody for internment or for relocation, the activity of the Japanese espionage service in this area was seriously disrupted. It is believed� that the Japanese had not anticipated this drastic action, which from a military standpoint was most effective.

4. The classification of Suspects had been the result of a number of years of diligent work on the part of the various branches of the Government engaged in counter espionage work. In peace time in areas such as the West Coast and Hawaii this classification of Suspects, and the obtaining of this information upon which the classifications were based, must be considered to have been the primary mission of the District Intelligence Office.

5. However, now that the Suspects have been interned or placed in relocation centers, the Naval Intelligence Service has lost almost entire contact with them, just at a time when the activities of

these Suspects should be under the closest observation of the Intelligence Services. Certain Suspects who are considered dangerous aliens, have been released from internment camps and sent to relocation centers where there is a much better opportunity for subversive activities. Also inmates of the relocation centers have been paroled, without any opportunity being afforded the Naval Intelligence Office to review these cases. In some instances, these inmates have on file in the office of the District Intelligence Office, incriminating evidence of anti-American activity.

6. In this connection, the District Intelligence Officer, recommends that before any Japanese or enemy alien is moved, released, or paroled from any internment camp or relocation center, representatives of the Director of Naval Intelligence, as well as of Federal Bureau of Investigation and Military Intelligence Service be required to pass upon such action at the seat of administration. Also, after such release or parole, all District Intelligence Offices concerned, should be kept informed of the movements and addresses of the Japanese or enemy aliens released or paroled.

7. From information obtained from the relocation centers, it appears evident that further steps for proper administration must be taken. It appears that the older Japanese are winning over many of the younger Japanese to their side, mainly because their government has permitted these older Japanese to dominate the younger ones in the relocation centers.

8. The District Intelligence Officer feels very strongly that at least we should protect those Japanese who want to be loyal to the United States from those who are loyal to Japan. To date, this has not been done. It must be borne in mind that practically all loyal Japanese in this country have the same feeling for their country and emperor as those on Guadalcanal or in other Japanese Military organizations and they must be treated accordingly. Any Japanese guilty of anti-American activities in a relocation center should be immediately transferred to an internment camp. It is also recommended that as soon as practicable the ISSEIS and KIBEIS be separated from the NISEIS, except those NISEIS who prefer to live with the ISSEIS and KIBEIS should be permitted to do so.

9. At the present time Lyle KURISAKI who has cooperated with this office, is on thirty days leave from POSTON#1. His family is still in the camp and according to information, is being made to suffer serious mistreatment. KURISAKI will also be in considerable danger, if he returns to this camp. It is recommended that any reasonable request from this man to the proper authority, be given favorable consideration.

10. In writing this letter, the District Intelligence Officer fully realizes that the Director of Naval Intelligence has no authority in the administration of internment camps or relocation centers. However, it is believed steps should be taken to bring the conditions and recommendations outlined in this letter, and other reports, to the attention of the department of the government having this authority at the present time.

11. This situation is currently recurring and will continue to do so until necessary preventive measures are taken. Considerable attention, time, and space are being devoted locally on the radio and in the press to the present situation.

/s/ D. Dwight Douglas
D. Dwight Douglas