The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-29

recognized they're on tho spot and they have moved out of their forn- CT homes without making any fuss or starting any lawsuits. But with- out getting soft O. sentimental about these Jap.AmericAFiG, they are unquestionably taking pretty much of Q beating and the potentlalitles for claims against the government out of real or imaginary damages to their persons and property can be rather sizeable.
 in simplest analysis, the problem has been that ikg impossible to tell ( good Jap from 6 bad Jap. In the hours and days immediately Soiiow- ing tho Pearl HarbOr sneak attack, FBI and the military authoritleS took into custody some 5000 Japs on whom the finger of suspicion had already fallen. They're safely tuck cd away in concentration camps today and are no problem. The fact is that today the government hes no evidence of any actual sabotage from the Japanese American eie. inent of the population. Espionage, yes. The Japs did plenty of spying. But no sabotage.
 THE ARMY
 STEPS IN
 There remained the danger that any one of the more than 100000 JapS still at large might commit sabotage, however, so at this point the Army took over. Even the 5000 young men of Japanese extraction who were An the U. s. military serv- ice had to be deinobilized Into tho reserves. The 5000 suspicious char acters put into concentration camps included most Of the leading cltis gems, the exporters and importers, the bankers, the big merchants and hotel-keeperS. They could hire law. yers and agents to look after pri. vate interests, keep businesses going. But the mass of Japanese left h. cluded the poorer clements, the fruit and vegetable growers and vendors, the fishermen, the people who took in each others washing.
 T'olan committee members and Stan Director Robert K. Lamb give the FB1 the Army end WRA, the new War Relation Authority under Director Milton s. Eisenhower, c wholesome pet on the back for the job done thus far. At the same time the coEii- mittee viii not hesitate to point out some of the existing dangers and the troubles that lie ahead.
 There is no provision yet for safeguarding the property inter. ests of these U. g. citizens of Jap extraction, as the Alien Property Custodlanship takes care of non- residents only. Consequently the Jap-Ainericans' cars, houses, fur. niture and farms are now threat ened with serious depreciation or destruction, laying the basis for many claims against the govern- ment later.
 THE STATES
 SAY NO"
 The Army now iS footing the bill for preliminary transfers of the Japanese population from defense areas to temporary reception cens ters on race tracks, parks and Biff1l- | lar seini.public places where ample shelter and adequate public utilities are quickly available one perma- nent, relocation center has been SC. lected, on Indian reservation in New Mexico. Others are being considered but one problem here b that no state wants these colonies.
 But the luckless japS have to go somewhere, and once on these permanent reservations the prob- lens multiply. Shall they be paid9 If so, what7 Should 1t De more than the soldiers wager Snail they be put to developing areas which will be theirs after the war; Or shall they build homes and break ground for others7 shAli they be forced labor or free labor7 Snail they be forced to grow crops needed for the U. s. war effort-guayule, for instance, or sugar beets or the truck and vegetables needed as vita. inlns for victoryS Gan they be used in other war production, such as having the fishermen make camou. hage nets?
 Those are just c few of the head. aches ahead.