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Mr. Gwynne. Well your organization is actively promoting this bill, isn't that right? Mr. Okada. Well, I -would say our Legislative Department, or our legislative branch Is actively supporting this bill. Mr. Gwynne. Are you supporting any other legislation? Mr. Okada. Yes, we are supporting a bill in which we request naturalization for our countrymen. Mr. Gwynne. Well, go ahead with your statement. Mr. Okada. May I express to the members of this subcommittee, on behalf of the members and friends of the Japanese American Citizens League, our appreciation for providing us an opportunity to appear before you and to present our case in support of H. R, 2768, the Japanese Evacuation Claims Commission Bill. In ray statement, I will try to explain briefly the Interest of the Japanese American Citizens League in this legislation, something of the position enjoyed by persons of Japanese ancestry on the west coast prior to the outbreak of war, the changes that were forced on the Japanese communities after December 7, 1941, the economic experiences of our group following the issuance of the military evacuation orders of February, 1942, with particular reference to the losses sustained by those who were included in the above-mentioned orders, and a word as to the contributions made by persons of Japanese ancestry in the late war. The concern and interest of the Japanese American Citizens League goes beyond that of most organizations representing minority or racial groups. lie have a definite organizational stake in this legislation. We are the only national organization representing the interests of persons of Japanese ancestry in the United States, life have more than 50 chapters in this country and our membership is composed of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and other Americans of good will. Although we were not in sympathy with the spirit or the intent of the evacuation orders, once that became a government order, we assumed the leadership in urging our members and other persons of Japanese ancestry to cooperate in our own removal quietly and without challenge. We believed then, and we believe now, that by cooperating with our government during its most critical period we were not only aiding in the total war effort of our country but also assuring and insuring more considerate treatment for ourselves during our detention and future restitution for our economic sacrifices when wartime hysteria had subsided and all of the facts were in. Because we advocated cooperation in evacuation, our organization placed itself squarely on the spot. The pro-Japan elements in the camps denounced us as having "sold the Japanese down the river". Several of our leaders were beaten up by aroused gangs of malcontents. Because the Japanese community as such holds us to be primarily responsible for the policy of complete cooperation during the evacuation, we believe that our responsibility in this connection shall not be completed until the lafjt remaining problems arising out of that wartime movement are equitably and completely resolved. It is our creed that Americans tend to be fair in all their dealings, and that the democratic system of government, in the long run, tends to correct whatever injustices and mistakes may be made in the promulgation and enforcement of emergency powers. This is why we are so vitally concerned with the passage Of this bill, Its enactment will not only further demonstrate that unquestioned loyalty and allegiance to our government is always the only policy but that our 42.
Object Description
Title | Hearings and Reports on the Evacuation Claims Bills |
Description | The Committee on the Judiciary from the House of the Representatives presents a report on the evacuation claims bills. |
Subjects | Redress and reparations |
Type | image |
Genre | Reports |
Language | eng |
Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
Collection Description | 111 items |
Project Name | California State University Japanese American Digitization Project |
Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Description
Local ID | csufr_hfp_1482 |
Project ID | csufr_hfp_1482 |
Title | Page 42 |
Creator | Unknown |
Date Created | 1947 - 05 - 28 |
Subjects | Redress and reparations |
Type | image |
Genre | Reports |
Language | eng |
Collection | Hirasuna Family Papers |
Collection Description | 8.32 x 13.66in |
Rights | Rights not yet transferred |
Transcript | Mr. Gwynne. Well your organization is actively promoting this bill, isn't that right? Mr. Okada. Well, I -would say our Legislative Department, or our legislative branch Is actively supporting this bill. Mr. Gwynne. Are you supporting any other legislation? Mr. Okada. Yes, we are supporting a bill in which we request naturalization for our countrymen. Mr. Gwynne. Well, go ahead with your statement. Mr. Okada. May I express to the members of this subcommittee, on behalf of the members and friends of the Japanese American Citizens League, our appreciation for providing us an opportunity to appear before you and to present our case in support of H. R, 2768, the Japanese Evacuation Claims Commission Bill. In ray statement, I will try to explain briefly the Interest of the Japanese American Citizens League in this legislation, something of the position enjoyed by persons of Japanese ancestry on the west coast prior to the outbreak of war, the changes that were forced on the Japanese communities after December 7, 1941, the economic experiences of our group following the issuance of the military evacuation orders of February, 1942, with particular reference to the losses sustained by those who were included in the above-mentioned orders, and a word as to the contributions made by persons of Japanese ancestry in the late war. The concern and interest of the Japanese American Citizens League goes beyond that of most organizations representing minority or racial groups. lie have a definite organizational stake in this legislation. We are the only national organization representing the interests of persons of Japanese ancestry in the United States, life have more than 50 chapters in this country and our membership is composed of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and other Americans of good will. Although we were not in sympathy with the spirit or the intent of the evacuation orders, once that became a government order, we assumed the leadership in urging our members and other persons of Japanese ancestry to cooperate in our own removal quietly and without challenge. We believed then, and we believe now, that by cooperating with our government during its most critical period we were not only aiding in the total war effort of our country but also assuring and insuring more considerate treatment for ourselves during our detention and future restitution for our economic sacrifices when wartime hysteria had subsided and all of the facts were in. Because we advocated cooperation in evacuation, our organization placed itself squarely on the spot. The pro-Japan elements in the camps denounced us as having "sold the Japanese down the river". Several of our leaders were beaten up by aroused gangs of malcontents. Because the Japanese community as such holds us to be primarily responsible for the policy of complete cooperation during the evacuation, we believe that our responsibility in this connection shall not be completed until the lafjt remaining problems arising out of that wartime movement are equitably and completely resolved. It is our creed that Americans tend to be fair in all their dealings, and that the democratic system of government, in the long run, tends to correct whatever injustices and mistakes may be made in the promulgation and enforcement of emergency powers. This is why we are so vitally concerned with the passage Of this bill, Its enactment will not only further demonstrate that unquestioned loyalty and allegiance to our government is always the only policy but that our 42. |