[1] This study is part of a chapter, "The Army and Japanese Evacuation," written for inclusion in a volume entitled Guarding the United States
and Its Outposts, which is being prepared for publication in UNITED
STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II. That chapter covers the proposal for the
mass evacuation of Japanese residents from Hawaii as well as the west
coast decision. The principal published works on various facets of the
subject include: United States War Department, Final Report: Japanese
Evacuation from the West Coast, 1942 (Washington, 1943) (hereafter cited
as Final Report); Morton Grodzins, Betrayed: Politics and the Japanese
Evacuation (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1949) (hereafter
cited as Japanese Evacuation); Dorothy S. Thomas and Richard S.
Nishimoto, The Spoilage (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1946)
and The Salvage (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1952);
Jacobus tenBroek, Edward N. Barnhart, and Floyd W. Watson, Prejudice,
War, and the Constitution (Berkeley: University of California Press,
1954); and the United States Department of the Interior, War Relocation
Authority, WRA: A Story of Human Conservation (Washington, 1946)
(hereafter cited as WRA).
[2] Ltr, TAG to CGs, 29 Jul 41, inclosing copy of the SW-Atty Gen
agreement of 18 Jul 41, in Adjutant General's Central File (AG) 014.311
(1-13 41), Sec. 1; Proclamations of 7 and 8 Dec 41, copies in Provost
Marshal General (PMG) File 014.311 WDC and PMG 383.01 Hawaii; Tel Conv,
SGS with Lt Gen John L. DeWitt, 7 Dec 41, Western Defense Command (WDC)
File 381 RAINBOW 4; Memo, Special Asst to SW for PMG, 13 Dec 41, PMG
014.311 WDC; J. Edgar Hoover, "Alien Enemy Control," Iowa Law Review,
XXIX (March, 1944), 396-408.
[3] Memo, G-2 Fourth Army for CofS Fourth Army, 11 Dec 41, Western
Defense Command-Civil Affairs Division (WDC-CAD) File 014.31 Enemy
Aliens.
[4] Office, Chief of Staff (OCS) File Index, 11 Dec 41, Tally Card info
re OCS 21227-38 and 39.
[5] Ltr, CG WDC to CG GHQ, 19 Dec 41, WDC CAD 014.31.
[6] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Gullion, 26 Dec 41, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs
(DeWitt, 42-43) .
[7] Memo, PMG for SW, 22 Dec 41, and Memo, PMG for G-2, 30 Dec 41, both
in PMG 014.311 Gen P/W.
[8] Tel Convs, DeWitt with Gullion, 26 and 27 Dec 41, and Tel Conv,
DeWitt with Col Archer L. Lerch, Deputy PMG, 1 Jan 42, all in WDC-CAD
311.3 Tel Convs (DeWitt, 42-43); Memo for File, Lerch, 1 Jan 42, General
Headquarters (GHQ) G-1 file, Subversive Activities, WDC.
[9] Memo, Lerch for TAG, 30 Dec 41, PMG 014.311 WDC; Memo, PMG for ACofS
G-1, GHQ, 1 Jan 42, and inclosed copy of Ltr, PMG to DeWitt, 1 Jan 42,
GHQ G-1 file, Subversive Activities, WDC.
[10] Memo, Maj Bendetsen for DeWitt, 3 Jan 42, and Notes on Conf in Office of DeWitt, 4 Jan 42, both in WDC-CAD 014.31 Aliens; Memo, CG WDC for Rowe, 5 Jan 42, the attached Tab A, entitled Summary of Communication (i.e., Rowe to DeWitt), 4 Jan 42, and Memos of 6 Jan 42, all reproduced in Final Report, pp. 4-6, 19-24; Tel Conv, DeWitt with Col Raymond R. Tourtillott, 5 Jan 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs (DeWitt, 42-43); tenBroek et al., Prejudice, War, and the Constitution, pp. 104-05.
[11] The Twelfth and Thirteenth Naval District commanders made
recommendations in identical language on this score. Memo, Adm John W.
Greenslade, Commandant Twelfth Naval District, for CG Northern
California Sector, 8 Jan 42, and Ltr, CG IX Army Corps to CG WDC, 8 Jan
42, both in WDC-CAD 014.31 Aliens.
[12] Ltr and Incls, CG WDC to Atty Gen (through PMG), 21 Jan 42, PMG
384.4 (California) General.
[13] Ltr, SW to Atty Gen, 25 Jan 42, PMG 384.4 (California) General. The
transcript of General DeWitt's telephone remarks referred to reads, "We
know there are radios along the coast; and we know they are
communicating at sea. They may be communicating with each other...." Tel
Conv, DeWitt with Gullion, 24 Jan 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs (DeWitt
42-43).
[14] Ltr, James L. Fly, Chairman Federal Communications Commission, to
Atty Gen Biddle, 4 Apr 44, quoted in WRA monograph by Ruth E. McKee,
Wartime Exile: The Exclusion of Japanese-Americans from the West Coast
(Washington, 1946), pp. 154-58.
[15] General DeWitt's final recommendation in this series, with respect
to Utah, dated 16 February 1942 (copy in PMG 384.4 WDC), lists and
describes the seven preceding ones.
[16] Grodzins, Japanese Evacuation, contains the most detailed analysis
of the pressures that developed during January and February for Japanese
evacuation.
[17] GHQ G-2 Info Bull 6, 21 Jan 42, copy in Assistant Secretary of War
(ASW) McCloy File 014.311 WDC Gen.
[18] Memo, Clark for Judge Advocate GHQ, 24 Jan 42, GHQ file, WDC: Enemy
Aliens.
[19] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Gullion, 24 Tan 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs
(DeWitt, 42-43).
[20] The Roberts Report is published in Pearl Harbor Attack: Hearings
Before the Joint Committee on the Investigation of the Pearl Harbor
Attack (39 parts) (Washington, 1946), Pt. 39, pp. 1-21.
[21] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 28 Jan 42, WDC CAD 311.3 Tel Convs
(DeWitt, 42-43).
[22] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 29 Jan 42, as recorded both in
WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs (DeWitt, 42-43) and in PMG 384.4 WDC; PMG Daily
Record of Operations, 29 Jan 42, PMG 384.4 WDC.
[23] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 30 Jan 42, PMG 384.
[24] WDC 24 Memo, Bendetsen for PMG, 31 Jan 42, PMG 384.4 WDC.
[25] Memo for Record, 31 Jan 42, dictated but not signed by DeWitt, WDC-CAD 014.31.
[26] Department of Justice press releases, printed as Appendix, pp. 302-14, to H. Doc. 2124, 77th Cong., 2d Sess.
[27] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 1 Feb 42, and Tel Conv, Gullion
with Clark, 4 Feb 42, both in PMG 384.4 WDC; Tel Conv, DeWitt with
Gullion, 1 Feb 42. GHQ G-1 file, Subversive Activities, WDC: Enemy
Aliens; Memo, Bendetsen for SGS, 2 Feb 42, AG 014.311 (1-13-41), Sec.
10.
[28] Tel Conv, Marshall with DeWitt and accompanying notes of Col Deane,
3 Feb 42, in OCS Tel Convs Binder 2.
[29] Memo, DeWitt for ASW McCloy, 3 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC; Tel Convs,
DeWitt with Joyce, 3 Feb 42, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 4 Feb 42, and DeWitt
with Gullion, 5 Feb 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs (DeWitt, 42-43).
[30] Tel Conv, DeWitt with McCloy, 3 Feb 42, GHQ file, WDC: Enemy
Aliens.
[31] Tel Conv, Gullion with Clark, 4 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC.
[32] Tel Conv, Gen DeWitt with Col Bendetsen, 4 Feb 42, WDC-CAD 311.3
Tel Convs (DeWitt, 4 2 -43 ).
[33] Press release of 5 Feb 42, quoted in Grodzins, Japanese Evacuation,
p. 258.
[34] Memo for Record, Chief WD Liaison Br, 6 Feb 42, GHQ file, WDC:
Protection of Vital Installations; Grodzins, Japanese Evacation, pp. 71-
73; H. Doc. 1911, 77h Cong., 2d Sess., pp. 2-3.
[35] Memo, Bur of Intelligence for Dir OFF, 4 Feb 42, copy in ASW 014.33
Enemy Aliens on the West Coast (hereafter cited as ASW 014.311 EAWC).
[36] Report, Lieutenant Commander K. D. Ringle, Eleventh Naval District,
through Commandant to CNO, no date, copy in ASW 014.311 EAWC.
[37] Draft of Memo, early May 42, Atty Gen for Roosevelt, as quoted in
Grodzins, Japanese Evacuation, pp. 134-36.
[38] WRA, p. 182.
[39] Memo, Bendetsen for PMG, 4 Feb 42, PMG 014.311 Gen P/W.
[40] Memo, Deputy PMG for PMG, 4 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC.
[41] Memo, PMG for ASW, 5 Feb 42, ASW 014.311 EAWC.
[42] Memo, PMG for ASW, 6 Feb 42, ASW 014.311 EAWC.
[43] Two Tel Convs, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 7 Feb 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel
Convs (DeWitt, 42-43).
[44] Talley Card 31 in re OCS 21227-88.
[45] On 11 February General DeWitt referred to his new recommendations
collectively as "the plan that Mr. McCloy wanted me to submit." Tel
Conv, DeWitt and Bendetsen with Gullion, 11 Feb 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel
Convs (DeWitt, 42-43).
[46] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 4 Feb 42, and DeWitt with Gullion
and Bendetsen, 4 Feb 42, both in GHQ G-1 file, Subversive Activities,
WDC; Memo, CG WDC for PMG, 5 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC
[47] The statistics in this paragraph have been compiled from General
DeWitt's several recommendations and supplementary communications that
he wrote in justification of them, which are located in various Provost
Marshal General files.
[48] Tel Conv, Col Bryan with Bendetsen, 11 Feb 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel
Convs (Bendetsen, Feb/Mar 42).
[49] Memo for Record (unsigned), 11 Feb 42, ASW 014.311 EAWC. The
figures given in (2) and (3) are about equal to the Japanese population
that these steps would affect. It therefore appears that the memorandum
did not contemplate a mass evacuation of German or Italian aliens.
[50] Tel Convs, McCloy with Bendetsen, 11 Feb 42, at 10:00 A.M. and
11:15 A.M. Pacific time (the White House conference occurring between
the two calls), WDC CAD 311.3 Tel Convs (Bendetsen, Feb/Mar 42); Tel
Conv, DeWitt and Bendetsen with Gullion, 11 Feb 42, WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel
Convs (DeWitt, 42-43).
[51] Memo, CG WDC for SW (through CG FF), 13 Feb 42, and covering Memo,
CG WDC for CG FF GHQ, 14 Feb 42, originals in PMG 014.311 WDC. The basic
memorandum is published in Final Report, pages 33-38, where it is
erroneously dated 14 February. As of 11 February, General DeWitt was
planning to have Colonel Bendetsen carry his recommendations back to
Washington, but on 12 February, because of the general's doubt that GHQ
and General Marshall had been "thoroughly informed" of developments, he
decided to submit them through the normal channels of communication. Tel
Conv, DeWitt with Clark, 12 Feb 42, and Gullion with Bendetsen, 14 Feb
42, both in WDC-CAD 311.3 Tel Convs (DeWitt, 42-43).
[52] The recommendations of the 13 February memorandum are described
below at greater length in connection with the discussion of the War
Department's directives of 20 February.
[53] Both the original and the carbon of General DeWitt's
recommendations in AG 014.311 (1-13-41), Sec. 10, are stamped to
indicate receipt in GHQ on the date and at the hour indicated. As
Colonel Bendetsen said on 19 February, the DeWitt recommendations "must
have hit the wrong airline." Tel Conv, Bendtsen with Donald A. Stroh, 19
Feb 42. PMG 384.4 WDC. The GHQ action is recorded in GHQ 337 Staff Confs
Binder 2, entry of 19 Feb 42; and in Memo, G-5 Sec GHQ for Clark, 19 Feb
42, GHQ file, WDC: Enemy Aliens.
[54] 1st Ind, GHQ for TAG, 20 Feb 42, on Memo, CG WDC for CG FF, 14 Feb
42, GHQ file, WDC: Enemy Aliens.
[55] 2d Ind, TAG for PMG, 22 Feb 42, on Memo, CG WDC for CG FF, 14 Feb
42, PMG 014.311 WDC. (Stamped RECEIVED IN PMG, 11:00 A.M. 24 Feb 42.)
[56] Recommendations enclosed in Ltr, Senator Holman, Senator Wallgren,
Representative Lea, et al., to President Roosevelt, 13 Feb 42, AG
014.311 (2-16-42).
[57] Memo, President Roosevelt for SW, 16 Feb 42, AG 014.311 (2-16-42),
received in Secretary's office at 9:11 A.M., 17 Feb 42.
[58] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Gullion, 17 Feb 42, ASW 014.311 EAWC. In the
Final Report, it is stated (page 25):
"The War Department representative [Colonel Bendetsen] carried back to
the Secretary the recommendation of the Commanding General that some
method be developed empowering the Federal Government to provide for the
evacuation from sensitive areas of all persons of Japanese ancestry, and
any other persons individually or collectively regarded as potentially
dangerous. The Commanding General's proposal was reduced to writing in a
memorandum for the Secretary of War, dated February 14, 1942.... This
recommendation was presented to the Secretary of War on or about
February 16th."
The author has not found any other evidence that General DeWitt's
recommendations in this memorandum were considered or referred to in the
preparation of new War Department directives on the subject between 17
and 20 February. After these directives were drafted and after talking
with General DeWitt on 20 February, Colonel Bendetsen wrote to the
Secretary of War: "It was I who misunderstood General DeWitt's plan.–he
has no mass movement in mind." Memo, Bendetsen for SW, 21 Feb 42, and
atchd transcript of Tel Conv, DeWitt with Bendetsen, 20 Feb 42, in SW
file, Aliens.
[59] Memo, PMG for TAG, 17 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC. This copy bears the
notation: "Gen Gullion took this up in person with Mr. McCloy who
approves."
[60] Ltr, TAG to CGs Corps Areas, 17 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC. The
reference to all Japanese residents as aliens was rather frequent
practice in Army exchanges on the subject during February 1942.
[61] Memo for Record, Gen Clark, 17 Feb 42, GHQ file, WDC: Enemy Aliens.
General Clark also told General Marshall about the meeting and the
decision about troops, but the author has been unable to find any
evidence in Army records that the advice of the Chief of Staff was
sought in the formulation of the War Department plan for Japanese
evacuation.
[62] Memo, PMG for CofS, 20 Feb 42, OCS 21227 113; Ltr, Mr. Biddle to
the author, 31 Aug 56. See also Grodzins, Japanese Evacuation, pp. 266-
67, and tenBroek et al., Prejudice, War, and the Constitution, pp. 111-
12.
[63] Ltrs, SW to CG WDC, 20 Feb 42, PMG 384.4 WDC; Notes on Conf in
ODCofS, 20 Feb 42, OCS Conf Binder 32. The longer of the letters became
the Outline Memorandum published in part in Final Report, pages 28-29,
and attached to a letter from the Assistant Secretary of War to General
DeWitt, 20 February 1942, page 27 of the report. Executive Order 9066,
19 February 1942, and the shorter Secretary of War letter of 20 February
1942 are also published in Final Report, pages 25-27. The letters were
apparently hand-carried by Colonel Bendetsen to San Francisco when he
flew there on 22 Febuary.
[64] Ltr, SW to Representative Lea, 21 Feb 42, AG 014.311 (2-16-42).
[65] Grodzins, Japanese Evacuation, pp. 331-39; Final Report, pp. 29-31,
49. On the legal aspects and consequences of the Presidential and
Congressional decisions, see Clinton Rossiter, The Supreme Court and the
Commander in Chief (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1951), pages 42-54.
[66] The analysis that follows, unless otherwise noted, is based on the
original of the DeWitt memorandum in PMG 014.311 WDC, and the copies of
the WD directives in AG 014.311 (1-13-41), Sec. 1.
[67] Tel Conv, DeWitt with Gullion, 17 Feb 42, ASW 014.311 EAWC.
[68] The central objective of the War Department plan is clearly
outlined in paragraphs 1-6 of the Outline Memorandum of 20 February,
paragraphs omitted in the publication of the memorandum in Final Report,
pp. 28-29.
[69] 323 United States Reports, pp. 223-24.
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