CONFIDENTIAL

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND AND FOURTH ARMY
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

October 5, 1942

SUBJECT: Retention of Japanese Evacuees in War Relocation Projects.

TO: Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

1. By the first of November this headquarters will have completed the transfer to the jurisdiction of War Relocation Authority at interior Relocation Projects of approximately 108,000 persons of Japanese ancestry evacuated by the Army from the Pacific Coastal frontier in satisfaction of impelling military necessity. Persons of Japanese ancestry within continental United States now fall into two general groups, namely (a) those under complete Federal supervision now in assembly or relocation centers referred to herein as "evacuees"; and (b) those who are at large, not under Federal supervision or control, referred to herein as "exempt".

2. The relation of all persons of Japanese ancestry within continental United States to the national war effort has not been fully determined. Consideration should now be given to the development of a sound national policy, implemented by adequate organization designed to so define this relation. This definition should insure that these groups will be integrated into the national war effort with maximum overall benefit. With the non-military aspects of this relationship the War Department is not directly concerned.

3. (a) With the removal of Japanese persons from the Pacific Coastal frontier, essentially as a counter-fifth column move, the danger of action in concert by this group along that frontier with a view to impairment of the war effort has been removed.

(b) The development and imposition of appropriate restrictions on dangerous elements among all Japanese whether of the evacuee or exempt classes has not been achieved. While under Army jurisdiction, during the assembly center phase of the evacuation, this was accomplished in part by universal close supervision of the evacuee group. Having reached the relocation phase of evacuation, the Army no longer exercises interior control over evacuees as jurisdiction is passing from the Army to the War Relocation Authority. Moreover, the problem of imposing appropriate restrictions on segments of the exempt class has never been met.

(c) With reference to the evacuee class there are two vital considerations:

(1) The separation of the more potentially dangerous elements from the remainder (see the two previous communications from this headquarters on that subject, copies inclosed); and

(2) The development of a technique and plan of operation to acquire maximum data about the Japanese as a race with a view to furthering the conduct of actual and psychological warfare against the enemy.

4. Pending the attainment of these objectives I recommend that the War Department undertake to provide for the retention of the evacuee class in relocation centers as a measure of urgent military necessity.

J.L. DeWITT
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
Commanding

2. Incls.
1. Letter dated Aug. 23, 1942 from J.L. DeWitt to Chief of Staff
2. Letter dated Sept. 8, 1942, from J.L. DeWitt to Chief of Staff