THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON

April 13, 1943.

My dear Mr. President:

Information that has come to me from several sources is to the effect that the situation in at least some of the Japanese internment camps is bad and is becoming worse rapidly. Native-born Japanese who first accepted with philosophical understanding the decision of their Government to round up and take far inland all of the Japanese along the Pacific Coast, regardless of their degree of loyalty, have pretty generally have disappointed with the treatment that they have been accorded. Even the minimum plans that have been formulated and announced with respect to them have been disregarded in large measure, or, at least, have not been carried out. The result has been the gradual turning of thousands of well-meaning and loyal Japanese into angry prisoners. I do not think that we can disregard, as of no official concern, the unnecessary creating of a hostile group right in our own territory consisting of people who are engendering a bitterness and hostility that bodes no good for the future.

I am particularly concerned about these Japanese because, in very large measure, they have been set down upon lands within the jurisdiction of this Department -- Indian Reservations, Reclamation Projects and Public Lands. I am unwilling to believe that a better job in general could not have been done than has been done. Neither do I believe that we can't do better from here out, especially if we tackle the job in a different spirit and with real determination without further delay.

Sincerely yours,

[Signature] Harold L. Ickes
Secretary of the Interior

The President,
The White House.