National Minutes 1942 Pre-evacuation

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move unless adequate preparations have been made and unless reasonable
protection from such vigilantism is assured.  If we   send thousands of
pedple into any regidnj they will create new problems in those regions
and oftentimes the cordial relationship of the people now there and the
Japanese people residing there would be destroyed.  I am afraid that
what is dangerous for the people along the Coast is dangerous for the
people in inland California as well as the intermountain states.  We
agree1 that the government ought to do something about this deplorable,/
situation.
Clark:  What do you think of the Blythe territory along the Colorado
River?  I understand that the climate is similar to that of the Imperial
Valley and that it can be made very attractive, although it is now a
part' of an Indian reservation.  Do you have any areas under consideration that you believe are suitable?  If you can give us your ideas, we
can start investigating them as to their suitability.
'Masaoka:  From time to time, we   have had promoters come in with
their various ideas.  We have referred them all to Mr. Neustadt's office
and upon their approval, we will give the go-ahead sign to our people.
Now,: as to such government resettlement projects as the Blythe and Owens
Valley areas, may I recommend that you permit leaders among the
Japanese American communities to visit these places and examine them.
Should these people approve of these areas, I am sure that the people
would be more willing than now to accept these places as resettlement
centers and that they would be more willing to voluntarily move without
causing great trouble and embarrassment to the government.
Clatk:  I believe that this is a good idea and if you will let me
know more about this plan, I think we can Work with you on it.
[ji: Sakamoto:  May I mention that in Seattle and in Los Angeles, there
is a movement among the Catholics of the Maryknoll group to resettle in
another region.  Any person, regardless of his religion, may sign up
with them if he so desires to go.  Thus far, x^hile the resettlement
project was planned for only 5,000, over 20,000 have registered.  I
believe that they were planning to go to St. Louis, but as there are
many defense industries thereabouts, the site will probably be changed
to Jefferson City.  I wonder what the government thinks of these projects
Neustadt:  We are very interested in such projects and are doing
everything to encourage private resettlements of this nature.
Sakamoto:  I wonder if the priests who go along with such projects
could be given special governmental authority in order to carry out
their work.
Neustadt:  The Army is  very sympathetic to such an ide§.r We have
many such projects in mind and the government generally approves of
them.
; 'Sakamoto:  In the state of Washington, we can move into, the,Yakima
Valley, but we   do not want to upset the situation there by moving in.,
large numbers.  It would be unfair to the white people there ,.as well as
to the Japanese. "A^
If we are moved west of the Cascades, we feel that we
ought to move out of the state of Washington for the whole state may
soon !be declared a prohibited area, which will mean another eva^'u'atio.n..
Neusitadt:  I know something about Yakima Valley and I can say ^hat
it would disturb the economic stability o'f that valley.  It is quite
heavily populated and the relations have never been any too good.  It
seems to me that they would resent anyone else coming in, even if they
ueiPe'kit&Wdpatiese. '.."!' -iou
Kido:  Regarding whatever new sites we may be able to select .and
avail ourselves voluntarily, excepting for the Pacific Coast,*.. it, seems
to me that all the crops to be raised will be seasonal and tha-t, the ,
growing season will be so limited that the entire agricultural outlook
of the1 Japanese1 farmers would have to be changed.  In California, you
can plant at any time of the year and have a full-year growing season
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