Vol. 50, No. 26, June 24, 1960. 8 pages. View this issue
Political events in Japan and what they meant for JACL ran through this eight-page issue. A front-page editorial argued the crisis should sharpen the organization’s sense of purpose before its 16th Biennial National Convention in Sacramento. Harry Honda described the convention’s mood and its theme, Decisions for Tomorrow. Mike Masaoka’s Washington Newsletter warned that Japanese Americans might face renewed suspicion and called for a public relations campaign.
The JACL Planning Commission’s 20 recommendations for the coming decade appear on page 3. Saburo Kido and Dr. Roy Nishikawa wrote on where JACL should go next, and Stirling Sakamoto reported on convention preparations. Elsewhere are the exchange of the U.S.-Japan treaty papers, a Hilo tidal wave relief fund, and Oakland’s new Japanese Garden at Lakeside Park.
What’s in this issue
Incarceration & Redress
- Purpose of JACL Brought into Focus, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Political events in Japan are presented as a serious challenge to American prestige and the free world’s position in the Far East. The editorial argues that these events should sharpen JACL’s sense of purpose ahead of the Sacramento national convention.
National
- U.S.-Japan Treaty Papers Exchanged, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The U.S.-Japan Mutual Cooperation and Security Treaty took effect after ratification documents were exchanged in Tokyo. Prime Minister Kishi announced he would resign once political stability returned to Japan.
- Supreme Court Decisions on Deportees, Civil Rights Commission of Interest to JACL, by WJACL News Service, page 1. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a deported former communist could lose social security benefits, and ruled 7-2 that witnesses before the Civil Rights Commission have no right to confront accusers. The JACL Washington Office noted the social security ruling may affect aliens who retire abroad.
Community
- Oakland Dedicates New Garden, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese Garden at Lakeside Park in Oakland was dedicated before 1,000 attendees, built through joint effort including Oakland JACL. Oakland JACL president Ken Matsumoto offered comments on the impending Eisenhower visit to Japan.
- Twin Cities Japanese to Enter Aquatennial, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Japanese community of the Twin Cities will enter a float depicting a Japanese garden in the Minneapolis Aquatennial Parade. Steering committee members from the Japanese American Community Center and Twin Cities JACL are organizing the entry.
- Hilo Tidal Wave Fund Contributors Listed, by P.C. Staff, page 1. National JACL Headquarters reported that individuals and chapters contributed $237 to aid victims of the Hilo tidal wave disaster. A campaign aims to raise $17,000, with an initial check to be presented to Congressman Dan Inouye at the Sacramento convention.
- U.S.-Japan Crisis Mooted at CCDC Pre-Confab Rally, by P.C. Staff, page 1. CCDC pre-convention meeting in Fresno discussed the U.S.-Japan crisis, Washington Office representation, budget, and a PSWDC constitutional amendment. Participants agreed final decisions would rest with convention delegates.
JACL
- Tinder-Box Aura for CL Confab, by Harry Honda, page 1. The 16th Biennial JACL Convention theme, Decisions for Tomorrow, takes on added meaning given events in Japan and the planning commission recommendations. Convention activities in Sacramento are described, with national president Wakamatsu urging chapters to prepare for possible developments.
- Convention Column: Sacramento Preparations, by Stirling Sakamoto, page 2. The author reports on final preparations for the 16th Biennial National JACL Convention in Sacramento, including youth programs, golf, entertainment, and the fashion show. The column reflects on the author’s experience handling convention publicity.
- 2060-70 JACL Planning Commission: 20 Recommendations, by P.C. Staff, page 3. The Planning Commission presents 20 recommendations covering national organization, public relations, international relations, legislation, scholarships, youth, community relations, finance, and the Pacific Citizen. The recommendations are intended for consideration at the Sacramento national convention.
Commentary
- JACL Planning Questionnaire, by P.C. Staff, page 2. The editorial reviews the four-page Part II and Part III questionnaire from the JACL Planning Commission, covering opinions on JACL’s future role and organizational budgeting. It raises questions about how the Far East crisis could affect JACL’s direction over the next decade.
- Obituary Notice 1967, by Saburo Kido, page 4. The writer responds to Marshall Akagi’s suggestion that JACL could be dead by 1967, arguing that the organization should continue to serve Japanese Americans rather than broaden into unrelated causes. The letter urges JACL to focus on its own membership and leave broader civil rights work to existing groups.
- By the Board, by Dr. Roy Nishikawa, page 4. Former national president Dr. Roy Nishikawa outlines the financial and programmatic tensions facing JACL as identified by the Planning Commission. He presents three choices for JACL’s future: retrenchment, maintaining the status quo, or expansion.
- Washington Newsletter, by Mike Masaoka, page 8. Masaoka argues that the withdrawal of President Eisenhower’s Tokyo visit makes the upcoming JACL convention especially consequential. He warns that Japanese Americans may face renewed suspicion and calls for a public relations campaign to separate their image from Japan’s.
Military & Veterans
- Convinced Nisei Should Be in U.S. Foreign Service, by P.C. Staff, page 8. Hawaii State Senator Kazuhisa Abe returned from a goodwill tour of Asia convinced that more Americans of Japanese ancestry should enter the US foreign service. He said this would help impress Southeast Asian peoples that the United States is not only for whites.
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