| CONFIDENTIAL DECLASSIFIED Date- Feb. 2, 1971
WAR DEPARTMENT AG 291.2 (1-19-43)OB-S-F-M January 20, 1943.
SUBJECT: Loyalty Investigations of American Citizens of Japanese Ancestry in War Relocation Centers. TO: The Provost Marshall General; 1. A plan has been formulated whereby the War Department will, upon request of the War Relocation Authority, assist in determining the loyalty of the American citizens of Japanese ancestry under its jurisdiction. The purpose of the plan is to determine (a) loyalty of American citizens of Japanese ancestry to permit of their release by War Relocation Authority from war relocation centers, and (b) whether those so released may be inducted into the military service or may be available for employment in plants and facilities important to the war effort. 2. The following administrative procedure is prescribed for accomplishment of the plan: a. Questionnaires will be executed by American citizens of Japanese ancestry in war relocation centers. [See sample -- Leave Clearance Interview Questions] b. The questionnaires wil be distributed in war relocation centers by teams consisting of an army officer and three enlisted men, including one Japanese-American soldier of the Nisei class. The teams will assist the War Relocation Authority in supervising the execution of the questionnaires. c. Personnel for the teams will be obtained by the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, War Department General Staff, and The Provost Marshal General from Service Commands or other sources. The teams will be trained by The Provost Marshal General. d. The Bureau of Public Relations will have charge of all phases of public relations involved in the accomplishment of the plan. Material for exclusive use in relocation centers will be prepared for the Bureau of Public Relations by Director, Special Service Division, SOS. In formulating publicity plans and working up material, appropriate representatives of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, War Department General Staff, The Provost Marshal General, the Office of Naval Intelligence, War Relocation Authority, and Office of War Information will be consulted. No material will be released without the approval of the Deputy Chief of Staff. e. The execution of questionnaires for male American citizens of Japanese ancestry within military age limits who are not in relocation centers and who make application for voluntary induction will be accomplished by the Selective Service System. f. The questionnaires executed by male American citizens of Japanese ancestry within the age limits for military service who make application for voluntary induction will be forwarded immediately without analysis or evaluation to the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, War Department General Staff, who will approve or disapprove such individual for induction into the armed forces. The Military Intelligence Service will notify The Provost Marshal General of the results of its action, and will transmit to the The Provost Marshal General questionnaires for these individuals under the jurisdiction of the War Relocation Authority who are not inducted into the military service. g. Copies of all other questionnaires, together with any information possessed by the War Relocation Authority pertaining to the loyalty of subject individuals, will be forwarded to The Provost Marshal General. A check of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Naval Intelligence records and an analysis of the answers given on the questionnaires will be made by The Provost Marshal General except for those individuals inducted into the military service under paragraph f. hereof. In cases where it appears to The Provost Marshal General that an investigation by the Western Defense Command will be of probable assistance, a copy of the questionnaire will be referred to the Western Defense Command for such investigation. h. A Joint Board which by agreement with the Department of Justice, the Navy Department, and the War Relocation Authority will be composed of a representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Naval Intelligence, War Relocation Authority, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, War Department General Staff, and The Provost Marshal General will be created. The Provost Marshal General will transmit to the Joint Board the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Naval Intelligence record checks; the analysis of the answers given on the questionnaires; and copies of the reports of investigation made by the Western Defense Command. The Joint Board will: (1) transmit the investigation reports and copies of the questionnaires to the War Relocation Authority, together with its recommendation concerning the release of subject individuals from relocation centers on indefinite leave; and 3. To assist in the execution of the plan, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War will coordinate the activities of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2, War Department General Staff; The Provost Marshal General, and the Director, Bureau of Public Relations. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of War will also be the point of contact with the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the formation of the Joint Board. 4. To prevent duplication of investigation, except where necessary upon receipt of supplementary information or for other cogent reasons, a list of American citizens of Japanese ancestry recommended for release by the Joint Board and their classification for employment in plants and facilities important to the war effort, will be forwarded to the Western, Eastern, Southern and Central Defense Commands, and all Service Commands. 5. The procedure prescribed herein is intended to supplement the leave regulations and Administrative Instructions No. 22, Revised, issued by the War Relocation Authority, and not to supersede those regulations or instructions except as may be ordered by the War Relocation Authority. By order of the Secretary of War: (signed) J. A. ULIO, -- Table
of Contents --
|