JOHN FRANKLIN CARTER
(Jay Franklin)
1210 NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D.C.

December 19, 1941.

SUMMARY OF REPORT ON PROGRAM FOR LOYAL WEST COAST JAPANESE.

Curtis Munson reports from Los Angeles that already five L.A. Japanese-Americans have committed suicide because their honor could not stand suspicion of their loyalty. He is rushing to Washington a program, which is based largely on the O.N.I. (Commander Ringle) proposals for maintaining the loyalty of Japanese-Americans and establishing wholesome race-relations. Its essence is to utilize Japanese filial piety as hostage for good behavior.

The chief points of this program are as follows:

1) Encourage the Nisei (American-born Japanese) by a statement from high authority;

2) Accept offers of patriotic cooperation from the Nisei through such agencies as a) Civilian Defense, b) Red Cross, c) United Service organizations;

3) Appoint an Alien Property Custodian to supervise Isei (Japanese-born residents ineligible for citizenship, under instructions to encourage the Nisei (U.S. Citizens of Japanese blood) to take over Isei property;

4) Accept INVESTIGATED Nisei as workers in defense industries such as ship-building plants, aircraft plants, etc.

5) Put responsibility for the behavior of the Isei and Nisei on the leaders of Nisei groups such as the Japanese-American Citizens League.

6) Put responsibility for the production of food (fish, vegetables) on the Nisei leaders mentioned above. (Japanese produce is frozen by Treasury orders; Japanese fishing-boats are beached by the Navy; result is threat of starvation to loyal Japanese families and food shortage in Los Angeles).

J.F.C.