The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-03-30
Fovor Work on
Roilrood by Jops
Continued from Page y

Continued from Page y
the average American will object.
AS an example, we found these
boys willing to 60 into isolated dis
tricts such as the hill work there
weeks at a time and do their own
cooking We have found them to be
excellent Workmen in every partic-
ular.'
Another matter touched on by
Stebbins was regret that any racial
trouble is allowed to develop for
the effect it may have on the treat
ment of American prisoners held by
the japanese. He referred to the
trouble at Tule lake as most I'M
fortunate and said his department
had absolute proof that following
that disturbance treatment of
American prisoners became worse.
The American government had
been working to get certain pack
ages containing medicines and foods
through to our boys held by the
japanese and with some degree of
success" said Stebbins. But not
lon0 after the trouble at Tule lake
was played up in the press, word
came through that the japanese gov
eminent had held up those packages
with the statement that if the Amer
leans were going to treat Japanese
subjects in that way, they would
have to be stricter with American
prisoners. Whether or not there is
justification for such an attitude,
the fact remains that any disturb
ance in racial matters here reacts
against the comfort and welfare of
our own boys in Japanese hands
That is one reason why / am so
greatly concerned against allowing
anything to occur that might give
grounds for such acts of reprisals, !"
said Stebbins.
Hoover Testifies
Mr.. Stebbins had with him two
pamphlets printed by the govern
ment dealing with the handling of
the Japanese in this country since
the breaking out of war and with
their removal from the West coast
A number Of high officials are
quoted and all speak favorably of
the American japanese. 1t is inter-
esting to note what j. Edgar Hoo
yer, director Of the F. B. T., had to
say. In giving testimony before a
House appropriations committee
Hoover said:
I'VE have had practically no trou-
bic with the Japanese in Hawaii.
made the statement before that
there has been no sabotage or espio-
mage committed in Hawaii, subse-
quent to Pearl Harbor. There was
espionage committed prior to Pearl
Harbor, but not by the Japanese
population as such, but by espio-
mage agents and consular agents of
the Japanese government.
Il want to mention briefly the
work which the. bureau has per-
formed in the field of enemy con-
troll.
Immediately following the Incl
dent at Pearl Harbor on December
z, l94l, we were called upon to eff
feet the apprehension of potentially
dangerous alien enemies
THE action taken and the prompt
manner in which it was taken, took
out Of circulation those individuals
who might have been the nucleus Of
any espionage or sabotage rings of
either Japanese, Germans, or Ital-
ians in the United States.
II think that is the reason why
we have had so little trouble from
agents in this country
~ tho present time OF course. we
are constantly on the alert as to the
activities of such groups that are
still in the country in the alien
enemy class"
If YOU worry about getting older,
Hop and figure if you weren't get