We'll Meet Common Enemy

The dastardly and treacherous attack on the United States by air and naval forces of Japan last Sunday by air and naval forces of Japan last Sunday absolutely absolves the resident Japanese in this country and their American-born children from any consideration they may ever have owed the Japanese Empire.

We are confident we can say without fear of successful contradiction that this is the sentiment, almost 100 per cent.

From the moment that news of the cowardly attack was flashed over this country, the military clique in Tokyo lost what little support they may have had here in the past few years in Japanese circles.

We say "little support" advisedly, because the course of Japan in her relations with the United States the past year has been viewed with considerable suspicion, both by the Japanese residents and the Americans of Japanese ancestry.

Now that Tokio has showed her hand in such a treacherous manner, she has lost what little reservation these people may have felt.

From now on Tokio can count on the open active and all-out opposition of the two classes without the benefit of reservation. The die has been cast and the game will be played to the bitter end until the inevitable result is obtained and the present Japanese Government is beaten to its knees.

There is no shadow of a doubt about the result. The millions of people in America will rally solidly behind our government, and in that great phalanx the young Americans of Japanese ancestry will be right in the front ranks.

And the result will be just too bad for Japan.

We wish at this time to bespeak consideration for the parents of these young Americans of Japanese ancestry. Like millions from Europe and their lands they left their homes and came here to enjoy the blessings of this democracy, to rear their families in the American way, and they have long since cut any ties that connected them with their native land.

These elders had hoped to end their days in peace, with their American children around them. This has now been denied by events. But we can assert flatly that they will take up the unexpected burden and bear it bravely to the end. At this time they humbly ask that they may be allowed to show further gratitude to the land that has been so kind to them by contributing their services in this hour of peril. They will not fail.

As for the young Americans, they have shown their colors in every possible way. Like most people of most every other racial background they have their organization. That organization is the Japanese American Citizens League, with its 15,000 young Americans, one of the most intensely patriotic organizations in this or any other country. It is a civic organization, absolutely non-political and non-sectarian. Its first obligation is to the American Flag. More than 2,500 of its members are now wearing Uncle Sam's uniform. And there are other thousands ready to answer the call.