The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-04-29
MaSaOka Plea
Continued from Page One


was backed by powerful money in
terests who wanted to open up
immigration to all kinds of people
and TO prevent the deportation of
undesirable aliens. He, too, spe-
officially opposed any type of sta
tute of limitations being set up to
prevent the deportation of any a.
lien and also the removed of the
race determinations in the present
laws. He asked the government
not to tamper any more with laws
that were already too liberal in
their application; he urged a gen.
eral tightening up of all deportation
laws in order that the several
hundred thousand illegal entrants
might be deported Immediately.
Mike Masaoka, speaking ex-
temporaneously, opened his pre-
sentation by charging that the
national representatives of the
Legion and the WV did not re-
present the views of all its MEM
bers, hopefully suggesting that
when World War III veterans
groups would be changed to con-
form to the changed conditions
i'm this country and the world.
He then pointed out that as far
as the japanese were concerned.
most of them who are in the hard
snip cases wers not dangerous
people or criminals who had en-
tered this country illegally. He
declared that most of them were
legal entrants, treaty merchants,
students, and visitors whose status
was changed by the war. He said
that they had record of demon
strated loyalty and that most of
them had sons who served with
distinction in the American Armed
forces in the Pacific and in Europe.
He asked that in all fairness and
justice that these people be placed
On the same basis as other pros
pective deportees.
Pointing out that the Attorney
General was given discretionary
powers, not mandatory, he urged
the Subcommittee to approve of the
section providing that the depor-
tations of aliens who had been In
the United States seven or more
years be suspended. THE Attorney
General. with all the investigative
facilities of this government, should
be in a bet, r position than any
other person or agency to determine
whether a person should be per-
mitted to remain after all these
years here Masaol-a said.
He also said that HR. 1898 did
not contain any mention of relief
for those who had performed
valuable war serices for the Uni
ted States. He urged that the
language of the Judd tWalter H.
Judd, Rep, Mimi and Miller
George P. Miller, DEM, CaliD
hills on this subject be Incorporated
into the bill as another section.
He recited the record of many
japanese nationals who had served
in stragetic intelligence services
who were now subject to deporta-
ton.
Masaoka's last argument OPP
posed the provisions of the bill
that would eliminate private bills.
Acknowledging that this prive-
ledge had been badly abused by
both congressman and those who
had access to congressman,
Masaoka urged Congress to retain
this perogative and not to surren-
der it lest they lose all ability
cope with the interpretations of
the Attorney General. He cited
the Soldier Brides Act as an ex-
ample, pointing out that while
the Justice Department would
not permit the entry of japanese
wives of American servicemen,
individual congressman we're in
Producing private bills to permit
such entry.
Congress and not the Attorney
General should be the last resort
for this is the way our government
was established" Masaoka declared.
Congress must retain their right
to correct Individual injustices and
hardship cases that a general law
night arbitrarily bypass.
HR. 1888 should be adopted,
Masaoka urged because it removes
a patent and historic injustice and
1T is a step in the right direction
discrimination in our federal laws.
and recognized the great contri-
buttons made by the japanese
nationals to our total war effort"