The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-10-19
Hawaii Interns Few Japs;
Majority Believed Loyal

ted On Dec. Z, nor has there been
any committed since" said Homo
lulu Police Chief William Gabriel
son.
Gabrielson pointed out, however,
the difference between sabotage
and espionage. and said there GER
tainly has been espionage in Ha-
wall He expressed the belief that
Japanese espionage was practiced
largely by visiting Japanese-offi-
GERS off Jap naval tankers. for exam.
pie. who were given the run or
Oahu-rather than by island Jap
anese.
Secretary Of Navy Frank Knox.
in letter to the Tolan inyestigat.
ing committee, declared that there
was subversive activity in Hawaii
before and during the attack on
Pearl Harbor. "This consisted OF
providing the enemy with the most
exact possible kind of information
q an al to them in locating their
objectiyes.' Knox said,
Jap Consul Had 200 Agents
The report Of the Roberts COM
mittee, which investigated circum-
stances surrounding the attack on
/ Pearl Harbor, said that in the sum.
mer OF 1871 there were more than
200 Japanese consular agents act.
ing under the consul in Honolulu.
The report said that the Naval In
Itelligence office for the 14th Naval
District raised a question with the
| FBI and the Army intelligence Off
Ger whether these agents should
not be arrested for failure to regis
ter as agents OF a foreign govern
ment.
1t. Gen. Walter c. Short. COM
manding general OF the Hawaiian
| Department objected TO their ar
rest. at least until they had been
given notice and an opportunity TO
| register. asserting that their arrest
might thwart efforts made by the
Army to create friendly sentiment
tow ards the United States on the
part OF Japanese in Hawaii.
The report said 1t was believed
that the center. OF Japanese espion'
age was the Japanese consulate
and that there was a great increase
in messages TO and from Tokyo at
the consulate prior to Dec. but
under existing laws it was impossi-
BILE for investigating agencies to
obtain and examine such messages,
although valuable information
might have been gained from them.
Son Has Father lnterned
on the other side OF the picture
is the undoubted loyalty OF many
OF the Japanese residents Of Hal
wall. many OF whom performed acts
Of courage and bravery under fire.
on Dec. I.
One American-born Japanesd
has a brother and father in INTERIM
ment camp and a second brother
who is a sergeant in the L. 81
Army. This Japanese himself was
/ instrumental in having his fathe1
placed in internment despite the
Japanese tradition Of filial dutyI
not because his father was guilty
OF espionage or sabotage. but mere|
" OF disaffection-lack Of loyalty I'd
/ the United States.
Most people In Hawaii-civiliansl
military and government officials
believe that in event OF a show|
down such as an attempted inva|
sion OF Hawaii, most OF the Island 4
Japanese would be loyal to thij
country. A certain-probably smal
percentage would be actively dis|
loyal, but some OF them might be id
positions OF importance such al
utilities.
The remainder-and there seem
to be no way OF telling what perl
centage this would probably
would be swayed by the tide OF bait
tie. One official who long has deal
with Japanese here said he believed
the sight OF Japanese blueiacket
on Hawai's beaches might resul
in mass turning Of Hawaii's JAN
anese against American forces be|
cause most japanese have had obe|
dience to the Emperor-in this cast
represented by his forces and flal
-iustilled In them for years n
training IN Japanese language
schools and churches at the hand|
OF teachers and priests who. them
selves. were officers in the Japan
ese army and navy.