Editorials

A Statement of Policy

It has been repeatedly charged by those on one side of the fence that The Sentinel is the "mouthpiece" of the administration, a journal of appeasement and a "Pollyanna." This we deny. We further deny, as others charge, that we fail to face reality.

Our attitude toward the War Relocation Authority is one of the friendly cooperation and not one of antagonism as some evacuees seem to feel we should maintain. Regardless of our own feelings as individuals we fully believe that the War Relocation Authority is the only agency directly concerned with aiding the evacuees. Certainly church organizations and other smaller groups are aiding in solving a problem that is not only serious because it so directly concerns those of us who are in the barbed wire fences into the lives of millions of minorities in this country but not to the same extent.

We sincerely believe that the men at the head of the WRA are honestly and wholeheartedly attempting to aid us. We believe that they are concerned with the problem -- ours and the government -- they would not continue in their positions under the hot fire of criticism that has been leveled at them and undoubtedly will continue to be.

To stick to their jobs and face criticism from the militant groups opposing all evacuees whether it be against their return to the West coast, or deportation to Japan, or de-nationalizing of all nisei, seems to establish the fact that WRA leaders have both fortitude and sincerity. Further criticism from evacuees is both unseemly and harmful.

Naturally, we do not feel that WRA is "lily white" and that it has never committed errors in judgment. We do feel, however, that these errors have been honest errors. The WRA was established without precedence to handle a situation that was first begun by the U.S. Army and followed up by the Wartime Civilian Control Administration. Its personnel was inexperienced in handling a wartime minority problem -- and where could experienced workers have been found?

Because we have not followed the dictates and demands of a small minority we have been accused of appeasement. This is far from the truth. We have tried to provide leadership and where our progress was barred we have found expedience in seeking different channels rather than attempting to burrow through an insurmountable obstacle. Fighting against issues that are beyond our control or control of the WRA is not only a waste of time and space but it dulls our fighting weapons and drains away our energies.

Because we have published "success" stories of those who have relocated we have been accused of being a "Pollyanna"; because we have published stories concerning discrimination we have been accused of throwing fear into the minds of those who would try to re-establish themselves on the outside.

We feel that the only persons who will successfully relocate are those who know what is happening in the vast world beyond the fences and guard towers.

When there is discrimination The Sentinel wants its readers to know what the sentiment is and where it is concentrated. We further feel that The Sentinel has been a contributing factor in encouraging more young people to return to their professions than any other single factor.

The Sentinel editorial board will continue its policy of backing those who are trying to do the most good for the greatest number of evacuees and in all other ways "calling our shots where we see them."