The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-12-12

IlOIldl JSNA was duNlSeu Dy MI.
Pearson. in a letter dated Nov. 20.
that persons of Japanese ancestry
now In Japan, claiming Canadian ci-
tizenship by birth or By naturaliza-
ton, will be recognized as Canadian
citizens by the Canadian Liaison
Mission in Japan, provided they are
able to substantiate their claims to
Canadian citizenship.
Parsons letter added that
should such persons wish to obtain
documentary evidence of their Ca
madam citizenship, it is suggested
that they apply to the Citizenship
Branch, Department of the Secre-
tary of State of Canada, for certi-
ficates of citizenship" :
Re-entry Into Canada
Pearson also made reference to
the JCCA's inquiry letter which was
also sent to the Deputy Minister of
Mines and Resources-the depart
nlent which handles the immigra-
ton. Pearson said that the Deputy
Minister for that department will
write the National JCCA concerning
the re-entry into Canada of natural
born or naturalized Canadian citizen
as we'll as Japanese nationals who
have retained Canadian domicile.
(The Canadian Citizenship Act
defines "domicile" as the place in
which a person has his home or
in which he resides and to which
he returns as his place of perma-
nent abode. and Canadian do
micile' means such domicile main
tanned in Canada for at least five
years.
While the National JCCA's let
ter of inquiry specifically mention
ed Japanese Canadians who were
stranded in Japan by the war, and
not those who had been repatriated,
it is held probable that the Cana
dian government will not make
this distinction and will recognize
the Canadian citizenship of the re-
patriates as we'll.
The recognition of the citizenship
status will of course, remove any
obstacle to re-entry into Canada.
JCCA's Letter
The JCCA's letter of inquiry, adj
dressed earlier separately to the
Under Secretary of State for Ex-
terr1al Affairs and to the Deputy
Minister of Mines and Resources
follow:
I'VE would greatly appreciate re-
ceiving whatever information you
can give us on the matter of the
present status of Canadians of ia
panese ancestry now stranded il,
Japan.
las you are aware, number OF
japanese Canadians are now ir
Japan unable to rejoin their families
in Canada due to the fact that
they were in Japan when Canada
declared war.
These people were, previous tc
the declaration of hostilities. or
visit to Japan as Canadian citi.
zens, but who now find themselves
unable to rejoin their families in
Canada, due TO the present uncer-
tain conditions.
I'VE feel that Japanese nationals
who have made Canada their home
but are also stranded in Japan un-
der similar conditions and who have
their families living in Canada
should be placed under the same ca
tegory of concern.
"As there are a number of Japa-
nese Canadian families greatly con-
cerned about this matter, we wish
to know what official machinery it
Is intended the Government set up,
to take care of this matter.
May we point out that the
United States Government has al
ready set up official machinery
whereby, after due consideration
of the eligibility of applicants,
stranded Japanese Americans are
now permitted to return to the
United States"