Japanese Internment Primary Documents

Document A: Poster, "Don't Talk!"

Document B: Francis Biddle, U.S. Attorney General, to Roosevelt, February 17, 1942 For several weeks there have been increasing demands for evacuation of all Japanese, aliens and citizens alike, from the West Coast states. A great many West Coast people distrust the Japanese, various special interests would welcome their removal from good farm land and the elimination of their competition... My last advice from the War Department is that there is no evidence of imminent attack and from the F.B.I. that there is no evidence of planned sabotage.

Document C: "Jap Farmland Is Transferred," The San Francisco News, April 3, “Nearly one-third of the Japanese farm lands on the Pacific Coast have been transferred to new operators under the supervision of the Farm Security Administration, L.I. Hewes, regional director, announced today. More than 1000 Japanese farms, totaling 50,000 acres, were transferred during March, Mr. Hewes said. FSA field agents have registered 6000 farms totaling approximately 200,000 acres and have received applications to acquire vacated farms from more than 2000 farmers”

Document D: The Crisis- see sourcing information at bottom bullet point. Along the eastern coast of the United States, where the numbers of Americans of Japanese ancestry is comparatively small, no concentration camps have been established. From a military point of view, the only danger on this coast is from Germany and Italy…But the American government has not taken any such high- handed action against Germans and Italians – and their American- born descendants– on the East Coast, as has been taken against Japanese and their American-born descendents on the West Coast. Germans and Italians are “white.” Color seems to be the only possible reason why thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry are in concentration camps. Anyway, there are no Italian- American, or German-American citizens in such camps. Source: Harry Paxton Howard, “Americans in Concentration Camps,” The Crisis, September, Founded in 1910, The Crisis is one of the oldest black periodicals in America. The publication is dedicated to promoting civil rights. The excerpt above is from an editorial that appeared soon after the establishment of internment camps.

Document E: Editorial, "Their Best Way to Show Loyalty,“ The San Francisco News, March 6, Japanese leaders in California who are counseling their people, both aliens and native-born, to co-operate with the Army in carrying out the evacuation plans are, in effect, offering the best possible way for all Japanese to demonstrate their loyalty to the United States. Many aliens and practically all the native-born have been protesting their allegiance to this Government. Although their removal to inland districts outside the military zones may inconvenience them somewhat, even work serious hardships upon some, they must certainly recognize the necessity of clearing the coastal combat areas of all possible saboteurs. Inasmuch as the presence of enemy agents cannot be detected readily when these areas are thronged by Japanese the only course left is to remove all persons of that race for the duration of the war. Real danger would exist for all Japanese if they remained in the combat area. The least act of sabotage might provoke angry reprisals (retaliation) that easily could balloon into bloody race riots. We must avoid any chance of that sort of thing. The most sensible, the most humane way to insure against it is to move the Japanese out of harms way and make it as easy as possible for them to go and to remain away until the war is over.

Document F: Carrying out Order 9066 The Civil Control Station is equipped to assist the Japanese population affected by this evacuation in the following ways: 1. Give advice and instructions on the evacuation. 2. Provide services with respect to the management, leasing, sale, storage or other disposition of most kinds of property, such as real estate, business and professional equipment, household goods, boats, automobiles and livestock. 3. Provide temporary residence elsewhere for all Japanese in family groups. 4. Transport persons and a limited amount of clothing and equipment to their new residence. The Following Instructions Must Be Observed: 1. Evacuees must carry with them on departure for the Assembly Center, the following property: (a) Bedding and linens (no mattress) for each member of the family; (b) Toilet articles for each member of the family; (c) Extra clothing for each member of the family; (d) Sufficient knives, forks, spoons, plates, bowls and cups for each member of the family; (e) Essential personal effects for each member of the family. All items carried will be securely packaged, tied and plainly marked with the name of the owner and numbered in accordance with instructions obtained at the Civil Control Station. The size and number of packages is limited to that which can be carried by the individual or family group. 2. No pets of any kind will be permitted. 3. No personal items and no household goods will be shipped to the Assembly Center. 4. Each family, and individual living alone, will be furnished transportation to the Assembly Center or will be authorized to travel by private automobile in a supervised group. All instructions pertaining to the movement will be obtained at the Civil Control Station. Go to the Civil Control Station between the hours of 8:00 A. M. and 5:00 P. M., Monday, May 4, 1942, or between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P. M., Tuesday, May 5, 1942, to receive further instructions. J. L. DeWITT Lieutenant General, U.S. Army Commanding

Document G: Photograph by Dorthea Lange, 1942.

Document H: Japanese-Americans transferring from train to bus at Lone Pine, California, bound for war relocation authority center at Manzanar

Document I: Temporary assembly centers were the first stop for most internees. Internees remained here until the War Relocation Authority camps were ready.

Document J: From 1942 to 1946, home for most Japanese Americans was one of 10 WRA camps, all patterned on military facilities. Hastily built, with tarpaper walls and no amenities, the barracks were hot in summer and cold in winter. Most did not meet minimal standards for military housing. A visiting judge noted that prisoners in federal penitentiaries were better housed.”

Document K: Letter dated May 20, This letter was written to Seattle high school teacher, Elizabeth Bayley Willis by her former Japanese American student who was sent to an internment camp. UW Libraries Special Collections. The camp in which I live consists of about 2,900 Japanese. Really, I have not seen so many all together in all my life. There are many cabins which are divided into blocks. Each cabin has a small wood or oil stove, and a bed for each person. The mattresses are filled with straw. The first night was terrible but eventually we got use to the bed. Unless one has a job it is very boring doing nothing but loaf. As soon as I can I am going to apply for a job.

Document L: Letter dated July 7, This letter was written to Seattle high school teacher, Elizabeth Bayley Willis by her former Japanese American student who was sent to an internment camp. UW Libraries Special Collections. What I wouldn't give to be back in Seattle next September to continue my studies at Garfield. Many of the boys say this too. Some of them who were not good students and didn't like school even say this. It is my belief that everyone here would like to go back to their normal life. But recently I've read quite a bit about taking away the U.S. citizenship of the American born Japanese and to deport them after the war. The Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West are trying to do this, and from what I read they are in dead earnest. Our citizenship is very dear to us and I hope this thing never occurs.

Document M: Letter dated November 12, This letter was written to Seattle high school teacher, Elizabeth Bayley Willis by her former Japanese American student who was sent to an internment camp.. UW Libraries Special Collections. Dear Mrs. Willis, My work in the beet fields has been finished and I will be on my way back to the Relocation Camp in two days. I have been outside the camp so long that I'll have to get use to camp life all over again. In the paper I am sending you, it says that barbed fences are going up, and that there are eight watch towers. I thought we had left all those inconveniences when we left Camp Harmony in Puyallup but it seems that the old life will be my new again. I just can't see why the government must coop us up after throwing us in the middle of the sage country with nothing but sage brush for miles around. If this is democracy, I think I'd rather be under a stern dictatorship. At least I wouldn't be winding up behind barbed wire fences every time. As ever,

Document N: Editorial, "Their Best Way to Show Loyalty,“ The San Francisco News, March 6, Japanese leaders in California who are counseling their people, both aliens and native-born, to co-operate with the Army in carrying out the evacuation plans are, in effect, offering the best possible way for all Japanese to demonstrate their loyalty to the United States. Many aliens and practically all the native-born have been protesting/proclaiming their allegiance to this Government. Although their removal to inland districts outside the military zones may inconvenience them somewhat, even work serious hardships upon some, they must certainly recognize the necessity of clearing the coastal combat areas of all possible saboteurs. Inasmuch as the presence of enemy agents cannot be detected readily when these areas are thronged by Japanese the only course left is to remove all persons of that race for the duration of the war. Real danger would exist for all Japanese if they remained in the combat area. The least act of sabotage might provoke angry reprisals (retaliation) that easily could balloon into bloody race riots. We must avoid any chance of that sort of thing. The most sensible, the most humane way to insure against it is to move the Japanese out of harms way and make it as easy as possible for them to go and to remain away until the war is over.

Document O: Letter dated April 11, 1943.Elizabeth Bayley Willis Papers. This letter was written to Seattle high school teacher, Elizabeth Bayley Willis by her former Japanese American student who was sent to an internment camp. UW Libraries Special Collections. Many Isseis are bitter because the American government feels so free about hurting their children and then asking them to volunteer and finally saying that they might be drafted. Some of the Isseis volunteered in the last war (WWI). They were promised their citizenship to this country. They were promised better treatment. Now these old folks say, what of us now. Have we got our American citizenship? Are we getting better treatment? What of our businesses? Our children are Americans yet they are being kicked around like dogs -- by Americans. The American government made a lot of promises in the last war. It is again making the same promises. The promises of today will be as good as the promises of the last war. Do you wonder why so many of the first generation feel so bitter, Mrs. Willis?

Document P:

Document Q- continues on next slide