WAR DEPARTMENT--OFFICIAL BUSINESS

OUTGOING CLASSIFIED MESSAGE

Office of origin: Office Assistant Secretary of War, John J. McCloy's office
Date: December 26, 1942
Telephone: 2385
Classification: Secret
Precedence: Priority

To: Commanding General, Hawaiian Department
Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii

WAR RELOCATION AUTHORITY ASKS STATUS OF FOUR HUNDRED JAPANESE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT EARLY EVACUATION FROM HAWAII. DIRECTOR MYER CLAIMS AUTHORITY USABLE IMMEDIATELY TO CARE FOR THIS GROUP IF THEY MUST BE HELD SEPARATE FROM MAINLAND JAPANESE. HE REFERS TO YOUR RECENT CONVERSATION IN WASHINGTON IN WHICH YOU STATED HAWAIIAN EVACUEES SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED CONTACTS WITH MAINLAND JAPANESE. IF INDIVIDUALS ARE IN SAME CATEGORY AS WERE THOSE PREVIOUSLY SENT AND ARE CONSIDERED HARMLESS NO DIFFICULTY WILL BE EXPERIENCED. EARLY REPLY REQUESTED.

McCLOY

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

[Signature] Colonel William P. Scobey, G.S., Executive of Assistant Secretary J.J. McCloy

COMMANDING GENERAL
HAWAIIAN DEPARTMENT

YOUR REASONS AGAINST REPATRIATION OF HAWAIIAN EVACUEES SEEN TO REQUIRE THEIR ISOLATED CONFINEMENT UPON ARRIVAL HERE. STOP HAVING IN MIND EFFECT ON YOUR LOCAL POPULATION AND NECESSITY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION HERE DO YOU DESIRE THEIR ISOLATED CONFINEMENT STOP WOULD DISCONTINUANCE OF EVACUATION ADVERSELY AFFECT YOUR SECURITY TO APPRECIABLE DEGREE STOP WILL EVACUEES INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS CLAIMING AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP

McCLOY