Evening star., 1943-07-06
japanese Americans Excoriated
By Critic Of Their "Savagery.'

TO the Editor Of The Star:
have read the article of Clarke Ka-
wakami in the April II issue OF The
Star criticizing 1t. Gen. John L. De Witt,
chief of the Western Defense Command,
for opposing the return Of Japanese to
the West Coast area, and further stating
that the Army has given vote OF con-
fidence to Americans" of japanese de-
scent by placing them in our Army, and
because of this his opposition is ILL
considered. untimely and unfortunate.
AS a Californian. am deeply grateful
to Gen. De Witt for his decision. Ap-
parently. the Japs are not trusted by
the authorities or they would be per-
mitted on the coast. There must be
some doubts, and rightly so, in view OF
their history in our country, and also In
the light of more recent events. Nor
has any one forgotten the firearms, am
munition, maps, short-wave radio sets,
ETC., found in great quantities on the
Pacific Coast shortly after December 7,
194l.
recall after Pearl Harbor when Japa-
that Gen. De Witt was most generous
and considerate of them, almost to the
point of defending them, to the appre-
hension and disgust of most Californ-
ians. No doubt Gen. De Witt has seen
his mistake, which undoubtedly was
gained by personal experience and In
part from valuable information given
him by older citizens of California who
know the Japs and know them we'll. And
it is to be regretted that other sections
of the country do not seem to understand
this grave problem.
We Californians believe that the Japa-
nese came to California for the sole
purpose of conquering us. and they have
left no stone unturned to acquire riches
in order to accomplish their purpose. 1t
is unnecessary to say they never will
conquer us, but undoubtedly their money
has bought them many favors from un-
scrupulous politicians. Nor have we for
gotten that the Japanese government
offered subsidies to Jap coolies to come to
our shores by the thousands back in the
early 19O0s, and who, incidentally, are the
lowest peasantry on earth, receiving few
pennies day in Japan for their labors
and often only rice.
Nor have we forgotten the picture
bride system of selecting wives they
never had seen before, and whose steam
ship fare was advanced so they might
come to this country to marry Jap coolie
men, for the purpose of increasing the
jap population and so that they could
buy tracts of land in the names of their
Jap infants since they, as foreigners.
could not purchase property (money for
which was provided by the Japanese
government)-the future loyal Ameri-
cans" of Japanese ancestry the present
arrogant and aggressive japanese in
our midst, to whom we have been so
generous.
Nor have we Californians forgotten the
fact that their parents intended that
they should remain Japanese citizens by
registering their births with their Japa-
nese consuls; also the fact that Japanese
children were sent to japanese schools
by their parents, after their daily at
tendance at American schools, to say
nothing of the fact that the japanese
language and the brutal principles Of
the Shinto religion were taught in their
homes; all Of which Is definite proof that
they had no intention of becoming
American citizens and very conclusive
proof that they came here for subversive
reasons. In the light Of this, just how