April 24, 1943

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have your letter of April thirteenth calling to my attention that the Japanese-Americans in relocation centers are becoming embittered. Everyone with whom I have talked is dissatisfied with the present situation of this group of people -- most of all the officials of the War Relocation Authority.

Like you I regret the burdens of evacuation and detention which military necessity has imposed upon these people. I am afraid some measure of bitterness is the inevitable consequence of a program involving direct loss of property and detention on grounds which the evacuees consider to be racial discrimination. I was therefore glad to endorse the recent announcement by the War Department which reopened to American citizens of Japanese ancestry the opportunity to become employed in essential war industries and to serve in the armed forces.

Since normal American life is hardly possible under any form of detention, I believe that the best hope for the future lies in encouraging the relocation of the Japanese-Americans throughout the country and in turning as many as possible of the relocation centers over to the War Department for use as prisoner-of-war camps. Your own recent action in employing a Japanese family on your farm seems to me to be the best way for thoughtful Americans to contribute to the solution of a very difficult and distressing program.

Very sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

The Honorable
The Secretary of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.