The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1949-01-08
Ado Summarizes Its 40 National Legislative Program

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ng of exclusion now would provide
concrete proof OF American gooo
faith at time when it is most i'm
portant that new leadership lin
the Far East be oriented in our
direct on. The matter of Japan
warrants particular attention
w. Wslton Butterworth. director,
Office oi Far Eastern Affairs. Dep
artment of State. in testimony be-
fore the same COMMIT ttee, said
that: For many years. the main
tenance of normal friendly rela-
tions between the United States
and Oriental countries has been
impeded by racial discrimination
present In our immigration and
naturalization laws The Judd
bill dor equality in naturalization
and Immigration has the hearty
endorsement of the Department of
State"
Brigad er General Bonner Fell
lers, military secretary of General
Douglas Ma Arthur in Tokyo until
mid-1946, also told the Committee:
II am convinced the Exclusion
Act was a mistake which should
be corrected The passage
of this b II tfor equality in natura-
lization and immigration will
materially assist the detectives of
our present military occupation Din
Japan"
Hundreds of organizations and
individuals hive supported this leg
islation, many from California
which was once the seat of anti
japanese feeling In the nation. For
example, the Los Angeles Chamber
of Commerce ON November II. l94S.
adopted a resolution which said in
part:
Enactment Of this legislation
equality IN naturalization and i'm
migration will remove an affront
10 the Asiatic race that has pro-
vided Communists and others with
material with which to criticize
America. We made a stop In this
direction in l943 in the case OF
China, and see no reason why 1t
should not be extended to all peo-
pies"
And John j. McCloy, wartime
Assistant Secretary of War, nov
president of the World Bank fol
Reconstruction and Development
made this statement before tho
Congressional hearing:
Il believe legislation such as this
tthe bill for equality in naturali-
cation and immigration), at lea5t
as 1t effects the interests of the
japanese Americans, is only an
appropriate form of recognit on for
the loyalty which Japanese Ameri-
cans rs a whole evidenced to this
country during the war"
2. Compensating Aliens and Cit.
zens for "Contraband Articles
Which were Lost or Damaged
While Held under the Authority
Of the U. 8. Government.
At the outbreak of the war. Ger
man, Italian and japanese aliens
as well as Americans of Japanese
ancestry, were required to deposit
such "contraband" articles as ra-
dios, cameras, and personal fire
arms with the Justice Department
or its representatives-local peace
officers Authorization for the re-
turn of these articles was given
ffter the war. At that time. it was
found many we're either badly dam
aged or miss ng.
Inc "contraband' program was
not part of the general evacua-
ton, and thus not covered by the
Evacuation Claims Act passed by
he last Congress
We believe the Attorney General
should be authorized to make dir
ect payment for loss or damage to
such articles as were held in Of
'icial custody.
The Senate, in 1913, passed S.
20. authorizing payments not in
excess CT $1,000 for dam7ge or los
10 contraband articles. but the ac-
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