The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-01-14
Sees Complications In Return
OF Nisei Stranded In japan

pan during the war can es-
tablish their American citizen
ship and return to their ma
tive country, Frank L. Auer-
bach of the Common Coun-
Gil for American Unity, re-
ported this week.
Auerbach estimated there are
5000 American-born persons of
Japanese ancestry in Japan who
went there before the attack on
Pearl Harbor.
Their families, in many cases
are in the United States he add
ed. Some OF them had been sent
by their parents or relatives in
this country to be educated in
Japan.
Ever since the end of hostili-
ties relatives of these Nisei have
been inquiring about what steps
can be taken to effect their re-
patriation to the United States"
File Application
Auerbach's report stated t h t
Americans of japanese ancestry
who wish to return to the United
States must file applications for
American passports with the Con-
sular Service in Tokyo. This serv-
ice still is understaffed and can
handle only a limited number of
such applications a day.
The relatively slow rate at
which applications for passports
can be handled also was attributed
to the fact that those American
born persons of Japanese ances-
try who are children of a parent
or parents born in Japan will have
to overcome the presumption of
repatriation as they have remained
more than six months in the Coun-
try of their parents or parents
nativity according to Section 4O2
of the National Act of 1910.
1t was also pointed out that
some may have lost American cit
izenship by committing one or
more of the acts enumerated in
Section 401 of the Nationality Act
as grounds for the loss of nation
atty of a foreign state upon ap-
plication or through serving in it's
armed forces or by performing
duties under foreign state for
which only nationals of such state
are eligible.
shipping Limited
Since most of these acts would
have been committed in Japan it.
self, applications for American
passports will have to be care
fully investigated in japan before
they are referred to the Passport
Division of the Department of
State in Washington for a final
decision" Auerbach's report add
ed. ut is understood that every
applicant will also have to be
cleared by Army intelligence.
Since most of them have now lived
in Japan for a number of years,
these Investigations will be extern
sive and time-consuming."
If Nisei in Japan eventually
is found not to have expatriated
himself and is issued an American
passport for repatriation, a fur
ther delay must be expected in
view of the still limited shipping
facilities between Japan and the
United States. No regular pass
enger service has yet been re-
sumed between the two countries.
All shipping from and to Japan is
still under the jurisdiction of the
| U. S. Maritime Commission.
Whenever Army or Navy trans
ports which call on Japanese ports
on their way to the United States
have space available for civilian
passengers the representative of
the American President Lines in
Tokyo, who acts as agent for the
u. S. Maritime Commission, will
be informed. Prospective passen-
gers therefore will have to register
with the office of the American
President Lines in Tokyo. They
will be notified when accommoda-
tons become available.
Cites Cost of Passage
The report noted that the cost
of passage from Japan to a West
Coast port amounts to 1925 for
passenger over IL years of age
Passage can be bought in Japan
from unblocked currency.
If the passenger does not have
the necessary funds at hand and
therefore wishes friends or rela-
tives in the United States to adj
vance his fare, instructions can be
sent by the American President
Lines in Tokyo to their office in
the United States to collect the
fare. 1t will be only on such d.
rect instructions from Japan that
the American President Lines in
this country will accept funds
for transportation. Relatives on
friends here cannot initiate travel
arrangements by preparing pas.
sage.