Biddle on the treatment of Japanese Americans, and the Tule Lake inquiry

Vol. 17, No. 21, November 27, 1943. 8 pages. View this issue

Attorney General Francis Biddle’s Armistice Day address in New York led the issue. He spoke of the Japanese, the Jews and the Negroes, argued that the government has no power to intern American citizens, and said the treatment of Japanese American citizens hardly accords with greater tolerance toward others. Elsewhere on the front page, Senator Sheridan Downey announced a personal inquiry at Tule Lake, and Walter Cronkite profiled Sgt. Ben Kuroki, who completed a tour over Europe and volunteered for another. Editorials took up Los Angeles District Attorney Fred Howser’s warnings about the former Little Tokyo area, and columns by Saburo Kido, Joe Grant Masaoka and Taro Yashima followed.

Also inside: reports on the 442nd Infantry at Camp Shelby, an Associated Press account of Nisei troops in Italy, and a drive at Rohwer to buy a jeep for the 100th Battalion. Ann Nisei offered recipes, and JACL announced a Christmas gift drive for people still in the centers.

What’s in this issue

National

• Biddle Says Treatment of Japanese Americans Hardly Accords With Greater Tolerance, page 1. Attorney General Francis Biddle criticized the treatment of Japanese American citizens in an Armistice Day address in New York. He argued that relocation centers were meant as refuges and that the government has no power to intern American citizens.
• Sen. Downey Will Conduct Tule Inquiry, page 1. Senator Sheridan Downey announced a personal investigation of the Tule Lake segregation center, and the Senate military affairs committee delayed action on a bill to transfer the camp to the War Department. The committee awaits Downey’s report.
• L.A. District Attorney Warns Negroes Against Return of Japanese American Evacuees, page 2. Los Angeles District Attorney Fred Howser warned that returning Japanese Americans would cause trouble in the former Little Tokyo area, now settled by Negro war workers. The Pacific Citizen editors condemned his statements as an effort to incite hostility.
• Exclusion Orders Lifted for Some Non-Japanese Persons, page 2. Western Defense Command announced exclusion orders banning some non-Japanese persons from the West Coast have been rescinded. General Emmons said he is reviewing all other non-Japanese exclusion cases.
• Legion Asks Army Control of WRA Camps, page 3. The American Legion national executive committee demanded that the War Department take over the war relocation program after the Tule Lake disturbances. The Legion authorized its national commander to work for dissolution of the WRA.
• Ex-Ambassador Grew Pleads for Square Deal for Loyal Japanese American Citizens, page 5. Former Ambassador Joseph Grew urged Americans to treat loyal Japanese Americans with the same respect given other citizens. He noted that Nisei units are serving with distinction in Italy.

Military & Veterans

• Rohwer Schools Start Campaign to Buy Jeep for 100th Battalion, page 1. Students at the Rohwer relocation center launched a drive to raise $1165 in war bonds and stamps to buy a jeep for the 100th Infantry Battalion fighting in Italy. The drive is led by the National Honor Society and Junior National Honor Society.
• War Department Reveals List of Japanese Americans Hurt in Action, page 1. The War Department named fourteen Japanese American soldiers wounded in action against Germany, including Capt. Richard Kainuma, bringing the total of injured Japanese American troops in the Mediterranean to sixteen. No fatalities had been announced.
• Sgt. Ben Kuroki Completes His Tour of Duty, Volunteers for Another Against Nazis, by Walter Cronkite, page 1. United Press correspondent Walter Cronkite profiled Sgt. Ben Kuroki, a Nisei gunner who completed a tour over Axis Europe and volunteered for another. Kuroki received the Distinguished Flying Cross for the Ploesti raid and is described as one of the fightingest men in the Air Force.
• Attorney General Biddle Lauds Nisei Soldiers in Italy, page 1. Attorney General Biddle continued his Armistice Day address by citing Japanese American soldiers fighting in Italy and an incident at Crystal City internment camp. He argued their service entitles loyal Japanese Americans to recognition.
• Seventy Nisei Enlisted Men Given Good Conduct Medal, page 2. Seventy enlisted men of the 442nd Infantry Regiment at Camp Shelby were authorized to receive the Good Conduct Medal, the first such awards by Colonel C. W. Pence. The list includes sergeants, technicians, corporals, and privates.
• Chaplain Thomas E. West Wins Promotion, page 2. Regimental chaplain Thomas E. West was promoted to captain at Camp Shelby. He recently returned from the Baptist State Convention.
• A.P. Correspondent Reports Nisei Fighting in Italy Refuse to Leave Front-Line Positions, by Associated Press, page 8. An Associated Press report from Algiers states Japanese American troops in Italy refuse evacuation to rear areas even when injured. One surgeon kept his place by staying on the clearing station records near the front.

Community

• Rivers Sends Chrysanthemums to First Lady, page 2. The Gila River relocation center sent five pounds of home-grown chrysanthemums to Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, fulfilling a promise made during her April visit. The flowers were grown at Nursery 1 under supervisors Itaro and Dan Nakata.
• Desk Troopers Win Recognition at Camp Shelby, page 2. Headquarters enlisted personnel of the 442nd Infantry were honored with a steak dinner hosted by Earl M. Finch. The article argues that office soldiers are essential to the success of combat operations.
• Non-Resident Fees Waived in Chicago Schools, by Louis Suski, page 2. Chicago’s board of education waived non-resident tuition fees for sisters Bette and Emiko Kikuchi after their brother appealed. The decision is expected to set a precedent for other resettlers attending school in the city.
• Major Russell Takes New Post, page 2. First Lieutenant Norman R. Gilbert was assigned as public relations officer at Camp Shelby following Major Oland D. Russell’s transfer. The article is brief and reports the reassignment.
• Kazu Tanabe Given Fellowship at Utah, page 2. Kazu Tanabe, a transfer from the University of California and a research assistant at the University of Utah, was awarded a fellowship in social work. The Tribune reported the award.
• Nisei Evacuee Gets Job as Teacher in Iowa School, page 3. Patrick Noda, formerly of Granada, was hired as a teacher at Galt high school in Iowa, according to WRA relocation officer Frank Gibbs. Noda obtained the job on his own and is reported to be accepted by the community.
• Heart Mountain Paper Asks Transfer of Tule Lake Control, page 7. The Heart Mountain Sentinel asked that the Tule Lake segregation center be transferred from the WRA to the Department of Justice. It argues the WRA’s relocation mission is incompatible with running the segregation center.
• Veteran of Attu Campaign Visits Relatives in Rohwer, page 8. Sgt. William Nishikawa, a veteran of sixteen months of service at Attu, visited his relatives at the Rohwer relocation center on furlough. He had volunteered for the army in February 1941.
• Manzanar Director Says Loyalty Pledge Required for Release, page 8. WRA Director Ralph Merritt stated that loyalty pledges are required before evacuees are released from Manzanar. He said evacuees who initially refused could petition for a rehearing forwarded to Washington.

Commentary

• Democracy and Total War, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial argues that the war must be fought at home as well as abroad for the rights of minority peoples. It calls for reinstating rights lost through evacuation and for equal status for all Americans regardless of race.
• Mr. District Attorney, by P.C. Staff, page 4. The editorial criticizes Los Angeles District Attorney Fred Howser for failing to act against known conspirators threatening Japanese Americans. It accuses him of inciting Negro residents against the return of evacuees.
• Behind the Evacuation, by Taro Yashima, page 4. The column argues that California business and land interests are driving the campaign for permanent exclusion of evacuees. It points to a Los Angeles group whose board is dominated by real estate operators.
• Race Issues Test Democracy, by Elmer R. Smith, page 5. Smith examines racial conflicts in the United States and argues that discrimination is undemocratic and reflects fascist attitudes. He contends that segregated housing does not reduce tensions and that prejudice stems from ignorance.
• Are Race Riots Coming?, by Joe Grant Masaoka, page 6. Masaoka warns that racial tensions in America are approaching violent outbreaks and draws parallels to persecution of Jews in Germany. He argues that minority struggles reflect the aspirations of all groups for democratic rights.
• Timely Topics, by Saburo Kido, page 6. Kido argues that restrictions on Japanese Americans should be lifted as the threat of invasion recedes. He urges the Western Defense Command to revise exclusion orders and free Zone 2 of California.
• Ann Nisei Says: Eat Alone and Like It, by Ann Nisei, page 8. Ann Nisei offers cooking tips and simple recipes for men living alone. She covers basic methods for steak, baked potatoes, salad, and beef stew.

In-Depth

• Reconstruction in Japan, page 5. John F. Aiso discussed post-war reconstruction of Japan at the New York Herald Tribune Forum. He proposed specific institutional reforms including limiting military power and reforming the agricultural and business systems.

JACL

• Community Christmas, by Hito Okada, page 8. JACL announces a nationwide Christmas gift drive for evacuees still in the relocation centers, coordinated by church groups. Readers are asked to send gifts or cash contributions to the New York coordinating office.
• JA Combat Team USO, by Hito Okada, page 8. National Headquarters solicits donations for a mobile USO unit to serve the Japanese American combat team at Camp Shelby. The goal is $500, with several contributions listed.
• JACL Contributions, page 8. National JACL reports $12.50 in new contributions from members in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Dayton, and Ontario, Oregon. The national bank balance was updated accordingly.
• Credit Union, page 8. The JACL credit union reported 62 members as of November 22 with total shares and entrance fees of $1552.75. One loan of $100 was made in October.
• Outcasts!, page 8. A 24-page booklet by Caleb Foote titled Outcasts documents America’s treatment of Japanese Americans and is available from National Headquarters for 15 cents. It is illustrated with evacuation and relocation photographs.

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