Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-25
Coast Faces
Problem in LIST
Paper Aliens
Rules Apply TO tn e m
as We'll as Foe
BY DAMON RUNYON

Nhiidl W 'iliS StNtiOii VI iii'
country is that OF the technical
enemy aliens, exclusive of the
Japanese.
The latter having been pretty
well rounded up and neatly ear
marked and corraled are no
longer the problem they were
for a time. But the Germans.
Italians and natives of other ma
tons al war with the Allies who
are ticketed as technical enemy
aliens present rather a curious
situation.
am employing the term
technical enemy alien as apply
ing to those who have taken out
first papers toward naturaliza-
ton as American citizens and
who are subject to the curfew
and other regulations set up by
the Ninth Corps army authori-
ties to cover all aliens. The
Ninth Corps Area takes in the
Pacific Coast and the adjacent
states.
There are some Germans and
Italians in this section who were
born in the old countries and
have never applied for citizen
ship. so of course there is moth
ing technical about their status.
They are out-and-out enemy
aliens. And / must add that I
have no sympathy for the pres
ent predicament of any foreign
ers who have resided in the
United States for long time
and made living here without
ever indicating disposition 10
assume the obligations OF citi-
Zenshlp.
QUT person who takes out
- first papers. which can be
done only after five years resi-
dence in the country, thereby
declares intention of becoming
a citizen, and may be regarded
as a sort of probationer for the
succeeding two years necessary
TO complete the process of natu-
radiation.
In that two years interim. he
is neither citizen of his native
country or of the L. S. A, and
il is these persons caught half
in and half out of the door of
citizenship who seem 10 be the
unfortunate victims of circum-
stances out here.
1t is said there are 1900 first
paper persons in the Los Angeles
area out of an estimated total
of $1,000 aliens of all nationali-
ties. Many of the first-paper
holders are restaurant and hotel
employees, and transportation
and field workers. Some are en-
ployes of the movie industry. in
,cluding a few actors, directors
and producers.
Under the regulations they
must be indoors by s o'clock in
the evening and cannot 60 five
miles from their home at any
time without a special permit.
As result many cannot work
at all, especially those who have
been employed on night jobs. II
is said there is total of 10000
persons classified as enemy
aliens in the Ninth Corps area,
with $1,000 in San Francisco.
and the regulations apply to
practically all.
IT is true that thousands OF
Il Japanese born in this country
who, under the law, are even
more American citizens than the
first-paper holders. are now in
termed, a fate that the technical
enemy alien escapes, so perhaps
the latter ought TO consider him.
self lucky.
But the firSt-paper fellows
point out that the Japs are get
ting paid-even though they can
never be citizens.
One of the first-paper contin-
gent presents the argument that
the situation could be eased if
q board in each city and town
working in conjunction with the
military authorities who review
cases of enemy aliens who have
had their first papers for two
years or more and relieve the
curfew regulations on those
found law abiding and worthy.
l am inclined TO think that
this suggestion has merit, as
there are undoubtedly many in
stances of genuine and unde-
served hardship.
AS / have said. the problem
is peculiar TO this region. You
can imagine the difficulties that
would arise if the curfew and
other regulations were applied
10 New York City where the
enemy aliens. technical and
otherwise, number into the hun
dreds OF thousands.
Copyright, 1872, by King Features
Distributed by international News Service
25 YEARS AGO TODAY