Naval Intelligence Memo (excerpt)
Lt. Commander Ringle, Office of Naval Intelligence, February 1942
(a) That within the last eight or ten years the entire "Japanese question" in the United States has reversed itself. The
alien menace is no longer paramount, and is becoming of less importance almost daily, as the original alien
immigrants grow older and die, and as more and more of their American-born children reach maturity. The primary
present and future problem is that of dealing with those American-born United States citizens of Japanese ancestry, of
whom it is considered that least seventy-five per cent are loyal to the United States. The ratio of those American
citizens of Japanese ancestry to alien-born Japanese in the United States is at present almost 3 to 1, and rapidly
increasing.
(b) That of the Japanese-born alien residents, the large majority are at least passively loyal to the United States. That
is, they would knowingly do nothing whatever to the injury of the United States, but at the same time would not do
anything to the injury of Japan. Also, most of the remainder would not engage in active sabotage or insurrection, but
might well do surreptitious observation work for Japanese interests if given a convenient opportunity.
(c) That, however, there are among the Japanese both alien and United States citizens, certain individuals, either
deliberately placed by the Japanese government or actuated by a fanatical loyalty to that country, who would act as
saboteurs or agents. This number is estimated to be less than three per cent of the total, or about 3500 in the entire
United States.
(d) That of the persons mentioned in (c) above, the most dangerous are either already in custodial detention or are
members or such organizations as the Black Dragon Society, the Kaigan Kyokai (Navy League), or the Hoimusha
Kai (Military Service Men's League), or affiliated groups. The membership of these groups is already fairly well
known to the Naval Intelligence service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and should immediately be placed in
custodial detention, irrespective of whether they are alien or citizen. (See references (c) and (f).
(e) That, as a basic policy tending toward the permanent solution of this problem, the American citizens of Japanese
ancestry should be officially encouraged in their efforts toward loyalty and acceptance as bona fide citizens; that they
be accorded a place in the national effort through such agencies as the Red Cross, U.S.O. civilian defense production
activities, even though subject to greater investigative checks as to background and loyalty, etc., than Caucasian
Americans.
(f) That in spite of paragraph (e) above, the most potentially dangerous element of all are these American citizens of
Japanese ancestry who have spent the formative years of their lives, from 10 to 20, in Japan and have returned to the
United States to claim their American citizenship within the last few years. These people are essentially and
inherently Japanese and may have been deliberately sent back to the United States by the Japanese government to act
as agents. In spite of their legal citizenship and the protection afforded them by the Bill of Rights, they should be
looked upon as enemy aliens and many of them placed in custodial detention. This group numbers between 600 and
700 in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and at least that many in other parts of Southern California.
(g) That the writer heartily agrees with the reports submitted by Mr. Munson, (reference (b) of this report.)
(h) That, in short, the entire "Japanese Problem" has been magnified out of its true proportion, largely because of the
physical characteristics of the people; that it is no more serious than the problems of the German, Italian, and
Communistic portions of the United States population, and, finally that it should be handled on the basis of the
individual, regardless of citizenship, and not on a racial basis.
(i) That the above opinions are and will continue to be true just so long as these people, Issei and Nisei, are given an
opportunity to be self-supporting, but that if conditions continue in the trend they appear to be taking as of this date;
i.e., loss of employment and income due to anti-Japanese agitation by and among Caucasian Americans, continued
personal attacks by Filipinos and other racial groups, denial of relief funds to desperately needy cases, cancellation of
licenses for markets, produce houses, stores, etc., by California State authorities, discharges from jobs by the
wholesale, unnecessarily harsh restrictions on travel, including discriminatory regulations against all Nisei preventing
them from engaging in commercial fishing--there will most certainly be outbreaks of sabotage, riots, and other civil
strife in the not too distant future.
1
Excerpted from THE JAPANESE-AMERICANS IN HAWAII, by Cecil Hengy Coggins
Harper's Magazine, June, 1943
The solution was to come, not from the white leaders who had voiced the greatest apprehension, nor from the
Islands' political leaders, nor even from the military. It was to come from the Japanese-Americans themselves.
In the heart of Honolulu was an organization called the Honolulu Civic Association. Largest and most
influential of all Japanese-American societies in the Islands, it had long been devoted to the advancement of
community interests.
Their problem was simply stated: "To find a way to convince the people of this country that we are loyal
Americans in heart and mind, and thus remove forever in fear, distrust, and discrimination which prevents our
being fully accepted as Americans." The Committee drafted a petition:
To the Military Authorities of the United States Greetings:
With full realization of the crisis which threatens the democracies of the world, and with the deep sense of
responsibility common to all free men, we American citizens of Japanese ancestry sincerely and humbly present
this petition.
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WHEREAS, there are, in the Territory of Hawaii, many thousands of American citizens of Japanese
ancestry, who are daily doing their best to carry on as loyal Americans, and,
WHEREAS, our education has been in all ways under the American system, and our associations and
customs of living have followed the course of loyal Americans, and,
WHEREAS, Hawaii is our homeland, and will be the homeland of our children, and,
WHEREAS, we have participated in the advancement of community life, and exercised our American right
of franchise for the promotion of a democratic government, and,
WHEREAS, war now threatens all these sacred, inherent, American privileges, as well as our national
welfare and freedom, and arouses and inspires us, individually and collectively, to action and sacrifice for
their preservation, and,
WHEREAS, American citizens of Japanese extraction have already been, and will continue to be, inducted
into the armed services of the United States, and inasmuch as their continued presence in this vital outpost
has caused a sense of insecurity among other Americans, which sense of insecurity should be removed, for
the common good, and,
WHEREAS, to deprive us of the sacred birthright to bear arms in defense of our country, is contrary to the
principles upon which American democracy is founded, now,
THEREFORE, we American citizens of Japanese ancestry ask and petition the military authorities of the
United States, to grant us the opportunity to fight for our country, and to give our lives in its defense.
Please give us a chance.
Many Nisei had lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. Two young men of Japanese extraction were near a heavy
machine gun when the attack came. They rushed to assist, loading ammunition belts and burning their hands in
the process. When the slugs of an attacking plane ripped the ground about them they stuck to their post, helping
to shoot down the attacker. Rushing to the fallen plane, they cut the insignia from the uniforms of the dead
enemy and proudly presented them at Naval Intelligence Headquarters. When questioned as to where they had
got their trophies they replied, "Off the damned Japs."
Editorial: This is War! Stop Worrying
About Hurting Jap Feelings
Seattle Times, January 30, 1942
Editorial: "More Plain Talk"
Date: February 5, 1942
Location: Bainbridge Island, Washington
Courtesy of the Bainbridge Island Review
(Author Walt Woodward)
Today and Tomorrow
By Walter Lippmann
The Fifth Column on the Coast
New York Tribune
February 12, 1942
SAN FRANCISCO—The enemy alien problem on
the Pacific Coast, or much more accurately the
Fifth Column problem, is very serious and it is
very special. What makes it so serious and so
special is that the Pacific Coast is in imminent
danger of a combined attack from within and from
without. The danger is not, as it would be in the
inland centers or perhaps even for the present on
the Atlantic Coast, from sabotage alone. The
peculiar danger of the Pacific Coast is in a
Japanese raid accompanied by enemy action inside
American territory.
This combination can be very formidable indeed.
For while the striking power of Japan from the sea
and air might not in itself be overwhelming at any
one point just now, Japan could strike a blow
which might do irreparable damage if it were
accompanied by the kind of organized sabotage to
which this part of the country is specially
vulnerable.
This is a sober statement of the situation, in fact a
report, based not on speculation but on what is
known to have taken place and to be taking place
in this area of the war. It is a fact that the Japanese
navy has been reconnoitering the Pacific Coast
more or less continually and for a considerable
length of time, testing and feeling out the
American defenses. It is a fact that communication
takes place between the enemy at sea and enemy
agents on land.
These are facts which we shall ignore or minimize
at our peril. It is also a fact that since the outbreak
of the Japanese war there has been no important
sabotage on the Pacific Coast. From what we
know about Hawaii and about the Fifth Column in
Europe this is not, as some have liked to think, a
sign that there is nothing to be feared. It is a sign
that the blow is well-organized and that it is held
back until it can be struck with maximum effect.
*****
In preparing to repel the attack the Army and
Navy have all the responsibility but they are facing
it with one hand tied down in Washington. I am
sure I understand fully the unwillingness of
Washington to adopt a policy of mass evacuation
and mass internment of all those who are
technically enemy aliens.... There is the
assumption that if the rights of a citizen are
abridged anywhere, they have been abridged
everywhere.
Forget for a moment all about enemy aliens, dual
citizenship, naturalized citizens, native citizens of
enemy alien parentage, and consider a warship in
San Francisco harbor, an airplane plant in Los
Angeles, a general's headquarters at Oshkosh, and
an admiral's at Podunk. Then think of the lineal
descendant, if there happened to be such a person,
of George Washington, the father of his country,
and consider what happens to Mr. Washington if
he would like to visit the warship, or take a walk
in the airplane plant, or to drop in and photograph
the general and the admiral in their quarters.
He is stopped by the sentry. He has to prove who
he is. He has to prove that he has a good reason for
doing what he wishes to do. He has to register,
sign papers, and wear an identification button.
Then perhaps, if he proves his case, he is escorted
by an armed guard while he does his errand, and
until he has been checked out of his place and his
papers and his button have been returned. Have
Mr. Washington's constitutional rights been
abridged?
Excerpted from Hawaii's Loyal Japanese, by THOMAS H. IGE
The Nation, August 8, 1942, p.120. Reprinted by permission of The Nation Co.
In his Nation article of July 25, Albert Horlings scores the United States for its liberal or
lax treatment of persons of Japanese extraction now residing in Hawaii. He argues that
the great majority of them cannot be trusted; that we are taking a bad risk. The charges
made by Mr. Horlings against these 150,000 Japanese, 110,000 of whom are American
citizens, are numerous and serious. I wholly agree with Mr. Horlings that "Hawaii's
safety is not a local matter, and a decision relating to a control of a possible fifth column
must be determined by national interest." It does not follow, however, that a prejudiced,
ill-considered presentation of the case will be any help in clarifying the situation. Being
of Japanese descent, born and reared in Hawaii, I too may be biased, but let us look at the
other side of the coin.
The degree to which people of Japanese blood have been assimilated into HawaiianAmerican society has been, I feel, grossly understated. I doubt whether there is one island
sociologist or any one else familiar with the island's racial problems who will go halfway
with Mr. Horlings. The statement in his opening paragraph to the effect that a majority of
us cannot read or write English is plain nonsense. For the citizen group, the extent of
American schooling is as high as for other racial groups in Hawaii and compares very
favorably with that of the mainland states. Alien Japanese recently arrived in Hawaii do
as well, on the whole, as others of like circumstances. "Thousands see or hear almost
nothing American, while they consume Japanese food, Japanese clothing, Japanese
music, Japanese pictures, Japanese newspapers and magazines by the shipload," says Mr.
Horlings. He does not mention the overwhelming majority who prefer Bob Hope, Bette
Davis, and Gary Cooper; who read the Reader's Digest, the Women's Home Companion,
the Saturday Evening Post, Life, The Nation, Harpers; who dress as Americans and sing
American songs. It seems silly to deny that our attitudes are fashioned after American
patterns. Where Mr. Horlings gets the idea that we of Japanese blood "imagine Hawaii
without American rule'' and picture ourselves as top dogs in this new Hawaii, I do not
know…
The question of our loyalty, of course, forms the hub around which all other
considerations revolve, and loyalty is too much an intangible thing to permit of estimates
or generalities. Most of our non-Japanese island leaders have vouched for the loyalty of
Hawaii's Japanese. This was borne out during and after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
and has been officially confirmed, but Mr. Horlings prefers to judge our loyalty on purely
racial lines.
What of the solution? Can we gamble on the loyalty of the 150,000 Japanese in Hawaii? I
will not deny for one minute that some agents of Tokyo and their dupes are still running
loose, but the overwhelming majority of us here proved that we will stand by America
when the zero hour strikes. We have brothers and relatives in the armed forces of the
United States and are just as anxious for an Allied victory as other Americans…
Letter from Secretary of War Henry Stimson to U. S. House of Representatives
Majority Leader John McCormack
July 8, 1942
PERSONAL
Dear Mr. McCormack:
The War Department has given careful consideration to your letter of June 28, 1942,
enclosing a letter from Mr. Charles F. Ayer in which he discusses the seriousness of the
Japanese situation in the Territory of Hawaii. I am glad to be able to report that this
matter has been under continuous study since December 7, 1941 and everything possible
is being done to solve the problem in a satisfactory manner.
Our greatest difficulty in dealing with this problem is the economic aspect. The Japanese
population is so interwoven into the economic fabric of the Islands that if we attempted to
evacuate all Japanese aliens and citizens all business, including that concerned with the
building up of our defenses, would practically stop. The critical shipping situation
precludes the movement of replacement labor from the mainland. Furthermore, the
Japanese who now occupy positions are experienced, whereas replacement labor would
lack this experience.
Those American citizens of Japanese ancestry considered actively dangerous are interned
in Hawaii, while those that are considered potentially dangerous are to be evacuated to
the Mainland for resettlement. All enemy aliens about whom there is the slightest
suspicion are returned to the Mainland for internment.
I appreciate your interest in calling this matter to my attention and I am sure you realize
the confidential nature of the information given above.
Sincerely,
(SIGNED) HENRY L. STIMSON
Secretary of War
Honorable John W. McCormack
Majority Leader
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
February 23, 1942 Memo from Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox to President
Roosevelt
THE WHITE HOUSE
Feb. 25 9 11 AM '42
Received
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
February 23, 1942
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
You will recall that on several occasions at Cabinet meetings, I have urged the policy of
removing the 140,000 people of Japanese blood from Oahu to one of the other islands in
the group. Each time the question has become bogged down because it dealt with the
matter of interfering with the constitutional rights of American citizens of Japanese
descent. Is not this difficulty now cleared up by your recent order covering exactly this
question on the mainland?
Personally, I shall always feel dissatisfied with the situation until we get the Japanese out
of Oahu and establish them on one of the other islands where they can be made to work
for their living and produce much of their own food.
I know that such a movement involves considerable effort and will require some sizeable
means of transportation. However, since our forces in Oahu are practically operating now
in what is, in effect, enemy country -- that is all of their defense of the islands is now
carried out in the presence of a population predominately with enemy sympathies and
affiliations. No matter what it costs or how much effort it takes, it ought to be done for
the sake of the security of that most important outpost of American defense.
I have taken the matter up with the War Department, but to date have made little
progress. I have in my files a long letter from General Emmons arguing against any
wholesale movement of Japanese. Since this was sent to me through military channels, I
assume that it, in a general way, reflects the Army point of view.
Have you any suggestions to make on this matter?
[Signed] Frank Knox
November l, 1942 excerpted letter from Dr. Herter to Secretary of War Henry Stimson
Dear Mr. Stimson:
On January 30, 1942, I expressed to you in a general way my fears concerning the local Japanese
situation with regard to internal security. Nine months later my fears have increased to outright
apprehension for little has been done since then. In a more specific manner than previously, I
shall endeavor to reveal to you the true state of affairs in Hawaii today. The need for such an
expose is prompted by reports from Washington attesting to the excellent control of the Japanese
here.
As a background for the present Japanese situation here one needs only to review our past policy
of allowing dual citizenship, language schools (not wholly interested in teaching the Japanese
language), Shinto temples, widespread propagandizment of our Japanese by hundreds of
subconsular Japanese agents and even official Japanese census taking. Donations of scrap metal,
tinfoil and even large contributions to the Japanese war chest left on every N. Y. K. boat.
Newspapers almost entirely in Japanese language were published daily. In other words the most
complete democratic freedom was accorded our whole Japanese population. The natural and
inevitable result of this policy was the retention of the true Japanese ideals of Bushido, emperor
worship and wholehearted allegiance to Imperial Japan. Intermarriage between the Japanese and
other races was a rarity and this usually meant social ostracism for those concerned. Life in the
true Japanese style flourished in small groups and communities. The assumption of too
cosmopolitan manners in these select groups by second generation Japanese was frowned upon.
The custom of the oldest son living even after marriage with the family was a strong factor in the
continuity and retention of Japanese ideals and customs. This fact assumes its whole significance
only when one realizes the tremendous influence a Japanese male or father wields. English was
spoken only outside the home and then only for convenience. Christianity has not flourished
among our Japanese.
Perhaps it is due to the above that counter-espionage by local nesii Japanese has been a failure.
Intelligence men will freely admit that not one bit of vital information has been volunteered by
the Japanese although they state that Japanese far excel all others in espionage. There has been no
public or even private renouncement of allegiance to Hirohito. Few have troubled to rescind their
allegiance or dual citizenship. It is alleged that methods have been available by which Japanese
dissenters and deserters could be removed with hardly a trace. This fact may explain why no
public denouncement of the Emperor has occurred and also the dearth of intelligence information.
…
The solution for this situation lies in your hands. Business must be divorced from military
operations. The average citizen of Hawaii is restrained from expressing opinions due to
censorship and a controlled press. We therefore are appealing to you and your good offices for a
speedy solution.
Respectfully,
W. B. Herter, M. D.
Honolulu, Hawaii
August 6, 1942 excerpted letter titled, “SHALL THE JAPANESE BE ALLOWED
TO DOMINATE HAWAII?” from J.A. Balch to Admiral Nimitz, Commander-inChief, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Dear Admiral Nimitz:
For some weeks past, in fact dating shortly after your successful Midway battle, I have
had the growing intuition that here in Hawaii we are perhaps forgetting to some extent
the danger of our cunning, unscrupulous and resourceful foe, the Japanese.
Ever since the Blitz of December 7th it has been the policy of our armed forces to
evacuate to the Mainland all persons whose services could not be used, or whose
presence here was inclined to tax our food and housing facilities. This exodus, however,
has been confined chiefly to white persons. This leaves, aside from our armed forces, the
Japanese population an ever growing percentage of our total population. Whether this
large number of Japanese can safely be trusted is, of course, a debatable question, ranging
from our Delegate, Samuel Wilder King's statement that in his opinion all are loyal to
their adopted land, to my own belief, based on a careful study for the past thirty-five
years, that probably only a very few could be really trusted, particularly in the event that
pressure was brought by the Japanese government on their relatives in Japan, or that
further serious reverses were suffered by our armed forces, or those of our allies.
From a study of the tactics employed by the Japanese in their recent advances through
China, the Philippines, the South Seas, Malaya, Burma, etc., the pattern of their basic
strategy has never varied, and has always been preceded by advanced guards sabotaging
and destroying communications, air fields, and other objectives, simultaneously with the
landing of troops and attacks by air and sea power. Why is it not logical, therefore, to
believe that their next attempt to conquer or cripple the Hawaiian defenses will be
coincidental with an internal attack, led, probably, by experienced saboteurs landed on
our shores from submarines in much the same manner as was recently done by the
Germans on our East Coast?
…
I sincerely trust you will understand the spirit in which I write to you, and also that the
fact that I served in the last war as District Communications Superintendent of the 14th
Naval District gives me the courage to thus address you.
May I also state that if I could be of assistance to you in any capacity during this grave
emergency, please command me.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. BALCH (signed)
Honolulu, Hawaii