Evening star., 1941-12-19
Not All Aliens
Are Enemies
Writer Discusses Change
In Americun Attitude
Towurd Non-Citizenss
BIZ Bertrdnl Benedict.

By Bertr1m Benedict.
We call them enemy aliens" or, some
times, allen enemies" but mon citizens
from enemy countries" would be more
exact, even if less euphonious and harder
to put into headlines. For in many cases
persons in this country who are technl-
cally subjects Of Germany. Italy, or
Japan are in no sense enemies OF the
United States, but hope, rather, Tor
defeat of the Axis. That is particularly
true Of refugees from Hitler's Germany.
Moreover, about one-third Of all nom
citizens in the United States have applied
for United States citizenship. In 30
applying, they have renounced allegiance
to the countries from which they came.
Therefore 1t cannot be automatically as
sumed that they still feel themselves
bound to those countries. II the truth
were known, many naturalized citizens
originally from Germany and Italy would
be found more favorable to Nazi-lsm,
Fascism, and militarism than many
persons of those origins who are still
unnaturalized.
Our laws do not allow the Japanese
born in this country to become cltlzens.
That is, they are compelled to owe
allegiance technically to the Emperor OF
Japan, whether they want or not. Chll-
dren born In the United States OF
Japanese parentage ere, OF course.
American citizens.
The United States now contains close
to a million non-citizens from the three
chief enemy countries. Last December
the figure was somewhat over million,
but since then some have been ma
turalized, and few newcomers have
entered
italians. 6s5, 900 strong, headed the list
of the 1921 900 non-citizens IN the
United States last December rs, when
registration Of non-citizens closed. Ger
mans were seventh on the list, with
3l5O0o. Japanese were eleventh, with
90 900.
President Roosevelt, under authority
given him by an old act of 1898 on aliens,
set out on December 7 and the rules
which these enemy aliens" must follow.
They must not, Of course, give aid or
comfort to our enemies, nor interfere IN
any way with our war effort. any more
than citizens may. In addition they
must not:
Enter or leave the United States or its
/ possessions without permission.
Be in the Panama Canal Zone.
Have in their custody: Cameras, radio
transmitting sets or short-wave receiving
sets, firearms. ammunition, bombs, etc.
signal devices codes, or documents with
invisible writing, pictures or sketches OF
military sites or implements.
Travel In airplanes except as allowed
Be in the immediate vicinity Of any
fort, airport, power plant, factory. or
other place from which enemy aliens
have been specifically barred.
Use any highway, railroad or building
not open to the public generally.
Belong to any organization prescribed
by the attorney general or attend its
meetings, or possess or distribute its
literature.
Considering the extreme anger aroused
by the treacherous Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor, It is highly gratifying that
practically no instances of violence
against Japanese were reported in the
United States Despite the extreme pro-
vocation, the people Of the United States
eschewed retaliation on individuals.
We were more prone to violence in the
last war, although the provocation was
less strong. Sinking merchant vessels
| without warning wasn't very pretty
business, even II they were carrying
| munition to the enemy, but even the
| Germany of the Kaiser probably wouldn't
have pulled anything quite so raw as to
kill from the air soldiers and civilians
of a nation with which the country was
still officially at peace.
Last time, there wasn't any easy way
| to tell at sight who were or weren't
| German citizens. Even II man spoke
with a distinctly Teutonic accent, he
might have been a naturalized citizen
or an Austrian, or even Czech. In fact
most Of the mob violence against in
dividuab in 1917 and 1918 was per-
petrated against American citizens
| some of them native-born Americans
who had expressed pro-Gernlan senti-
ments, some Of them leaders OF un-
popular labor movements like the
I. w. w.
| Some Of the persecution OF 1917 and
1918 was done legally. too. Certain OF
the laws and the jail sentences Of the
last war seem incredible today. A
Federal statute made it punishable by 2(
years in jail to speak disrespectfplly OF
the form of Government Of the United
States. A man got 20 years for urging
the defeat of members Of Congress who
had voted for conscription. A woman
got 20 years for writing that she was
against the Government because the
Government was for the profiteers.
Some State laws meted out severe
punishment for advocating violence tc
accomplish industrial reform. Others
made it a crime to use language opposing
the war. In some States persons received
stringent Jail sentences not for anything
they had said or done, but merely fol
belonging to organizations considered
subversive.
Today the danger of such hysterla
seems remote. For one thing, the las
three Attorneys General have deplore'
the more extreme legislation OF the las
war against dissenters. For another
thing, the Nation is better unified; ther'
can be no opinion today that war agains
Japan. Germany and Italy Is unjustlf1ed
whereas there was considerable belle
in 1917 that war against Germany wa
improper, or at least preventable' o.
| unWiSe