<p> Statement of Miller Freeman</p><p>Before the</p><p>CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTE INVESTIGATING NATIONAL DEFENSE MIGRATION</p><p>SEATTLE, WASIT INGTON</p><p>March 2, 1942</p><p>It is my recommendation that all Japanese, both alien and U.S.-born, be evacuated from the Pacific Coast states, and other defense areas, and kept in the interior under strict control for the duration of the war. While it may be argued that many American-born Japanese are loyal to the United States there are sufficient numbers who are proven to be assisting Japan's war effort to warrant such action, not only in the nation's interest, but for protection of the Japanese themselves. Two-thirds of the Japanese in this country are now American-born, largely of mature years. Those who are genuinely loyal find themselves in their present difficult position through the treacherous attack by Japan on this nation, and because of their own sins of omission. Although the American-born are strongly organized for proclaimed patriotic purposes, why have they taken no stand against the aggressions of Japan in the Orient over the past ten years? Why have they not denounced the depredations and enslavement by Japan of the Chinese, the Koreans and other Asiatics? Why have the loyal American-born Japanese not forced the closing of the hundreds of Japanese- language schools that have been operated continuously right up to December 7th for nearly a half-century in the United States and Hawaii, the sole function of these schools being to train the children up to owe their allegiance to Japan? Why also have they continued Japanese language newspapers? Practically all aliens and American-born alike, read English. Only after the attack by Japan on this country were the Japanese-language newspapers converted into English. Study of the historical record of Japanese colonization in the United States and its possessions should be made by your Committee. Such-study would show that the Japanese government as a part of its ambitious program of colonization of North and South America, and as a preliminary to conquest, planted its immigrants in the United States by the combined use of fraud, collusion, political and military force, and over the most intense and sustained opposition of the various states of the Pacific Coast, and the Territory of Hawaii. The first Japanese immigrants were brought into Hawaii in 1868, numbering 350, as peons, for a period of three years service at $4 per month under contract to sugar planters. Ten years later the business had become systematized and grown to alarming proportions in the hands of Japanese emigration syndicates. Professor W. D. Alexander, in his book "The History of the Hawaiian People", said: </p><p>"Having ascertained that extensive frauds were being practiced on these people, and that the immigration laws were-being evaded, the Hawaiian Government caused a strict examination to be made, and on the 23d of March, 1897, forbade the landing of several hundred Japanese immigrants. In all, about 1,100 immigrants on different occasions were obliged to return to Japan, where this severe action excited intense feeling. The Japanese Government sent the cruiser NANIWA in May, with a special commissioner, to investigate the matter. After a lengthy correspondence, the difficulty was amicably compromised the next year by the payment of an indemnity of $75,000 to Japan. This was done at the instance of the United States Government, to remove a possible hindrance to annexation." </p><p>It is thus seen that as early as 1896 the attempt was made by the Hawaiian government to avert being inundated by the Japanese hordes, but they were compelled to yield to force, combined with pressure by the United States government, and Hawaii was required to pay a considerable sum by way of damages for its resistance, </p><p>In 1907 the rising tide of public sentiment on the Pacific Coast against the unrestricted immigration by Japanese syndicates crystallized in a demand for exclusion. In his biography Theodore Roosevelt relates how he was told by Japan that if Congress passed such an act she would declare war; that he was genuinely alarmed because Japan had a great army of veterans trained in wars with China and Russia, and that he therefore accepted Japan s proposal to enter into the so-called Gentlemen's Agreement, by which Japan agreed on her honor to keep her nationals out of the country. That Agreement was generally accepted as a happy solution of the problem.</p><p>The Seattle office of the US Department of Commerce has just furnished me with the following figures covering the Japanese population in Continental United States and Hawaii:</p><p>1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 Unites States 24,326 72,157 111,010 138,834 126,947 Hawaii No figures 151,832 109,274 139,631 157,905 TOTAL 151,832 220,284 278,465 284,852</p><p>In the decade between 1910 and 1920, the Japanese population in the United States and Hawaii increased by 68,452</p><p>Between 1920.and 1930 the Japanese population increased by 58,181 </p><p>In the 1930-1940 decade it increased by 6,387. However, the Japanese population in the United States during this period decreased by 11,887. When the births in the continental United States are figured in for this decade this would mean a total decrease of at least twenty-five thousand, Where did these people go? How many additional have left since 1940? If to Japan to enter the service of that country against the United States will they be welcomed back with open arms at the end of the war? </p><p>In the same decade Japanese population in Hawaii increased by 18,271. Where did this increase come from? The increase in Hawaii would have been nearer thirty thousand for the 1930-1940 decade except for emigration to Japan or the mainland. </p><p>Your Committee should obtain the answers to these questions for the future guidance of the Federal Government.</p><p>Japan has accomplished the miraculous feat of permanently planting three hundred thousand of her people in this country, quadrupling it since the Gentlemen's Agreement was entered into in 1907. Compound this population's birth rate over the next fifty years and it becomes clear that we are handing on to future generations a problem of an insoluble race that will continue to become increasingly grave. This could only have been accomplished by the weakness of the National Government in failing to resist Japan's colonization efforts and enforce the principles and the spirit of the exclusion measures that had been adopted. We were deceived twice into thinking Japanese immigration stopped -- once in 1907 and again in 1924.</p><p>Japan s designs in colonizing the Pacific Coast states and Hawaii and her ambitious plans for conquest have been abetted by pro-Japanese elements in this country including such organizations as the Japan Society, which is national in character with local chapters - in various parts of the country, The membership of the Japan Society is made up of persons employed by Japanese interests, such as lawyers and other agents, representatives of transportation companies, import and export concerns, ministers, educators, peace advocates, and represents a cross-section of public men in the communities where it operates. Some have been decorated by the Japanese Emperor for services rendered. It has had prominent officials of the United States government as directors and members.</p><p>By economic and political pressure these people have been of powerful help to Japan. Only two years ago Japan undertook a drive to prevent abrogation of our trade treaty, which automatically stopped shipments of war materials to that country. This campaign was conducted through the Japanese Embassy and the local Japanese consuls. They lined up the people with whom they had business or other connections and got them to oppose such abrogation </p><p>If, as believed, this is a fifth-column organization, it should be disbanded, even though the majority of the members of such organization are not consciously disloyal to America. They have simply been made suckers out of. </p><p>The Japanese in this country now find themselves victims of an obsolete system that Japan's military government is belatedly attempting to enforce on the world. They have failed to realize that the day of subjugation and exploitation of defenseless millions throughout the world is about over.</p>