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i: I. et > + °° ‘Phe Challenge to Help A few of these evacuees are pacifists; a great many of them are Christian communicants; still more are American citizens; all are human beings needing our love and help and friendship. So, whether we call ourselves pacifists or Christian: or American’ ot humanitarian, the evacuation presents a tremendous challenge. So far, most of the at- tempts to help have been alleviatory in nature, Some have. helped i in evacuation problems, such as moving, the stor- age of goods, renting houses, and protection against profiteers. At least two religious groups set up hostels to . which early evacuees could go, and there have been other indications of the expression of fove toward these people, the importance of which cannot be overstated. Neverthe- -less, this is not enough, for more than alleviation of im- _ mediate suffering is needed, and it is encouraging to note: *some Nisei groups planning for future cooperative settle- - ments, and white students trying to help evacuated students become relocated in other areas. The sharp distinction between aiding the processes of evacuation and detention and helping those individuals who need love and assistance must be maintained, for the evac- wation and continued detention of these people is wrong and as such should be consistently opposed. The Govern- ment should not have yielded to the pressure for evacua- tion, and should now change its policy with a view to ar- ranging immediately for fair public hearings for all now in amps. Where no concrete evidence of guilt exists, Citizens should be given unconditional ‘telease, and the aliens treated as are other enemy alicns, not as a racial minority. The present policy, looking toward the release of those who can prove their innocence, must be reversed, for the whole tradition of Anglo-Saxon common law is the presumption that a man is innocent until proved guilty, and in the present case the burden of proof rests upon the Government, not upon the evacuee. These actions should be taken now, for the solution of the problems the evacuation has created will not be made the - ine car .. easier by waiting until latec. If action is postponed until the post-war period, it will be greatly complicated by the problem of resettling millions of soldiers and war indus- try workers at the same time. In addition, by admitting its ” mistake and rectifying it, our Government could contribute ‘an encouraging boost to the forces of raciat understanding. In.a time when we are secking to prove ta the Negro that this is not just a white man’s war, and trying to counter- act Axis influence on colored peoples the world over, no action could be more pertinent. if this measure is not oppased, there is no guarantee what group will be next, for what can happen to a Japanese tacial minority can happen also to a Negro or Jewish minority. By our opposition and our attempt to bring the truth to the attention of the public we can con- ° tribute to building the peace, as knowledge of the truth and an attitude of racial tolerance among American citi- zens are prerequisites of any better world. We need to join in a recent concern of some Southern California — Friends, prompted by the evacuation, to become a proup which will “with love rather than malice, yet extensively speak at the nresent time, hike the prophets of ofd, that the historic principle of the Society of Friends that per- sons are. more important than any theory needs special emphasis.” Recognizing that such outspokenness may be “disastrous” and that “undoubtedly we shall reap. what we have sown in our own apathy and indifference in the past,” these Friends feel that they should publicly apolo- gise for our national course of action and thus “completely identify ourselves with persons in other nations who find themselves caught in a similar, seemingly overwhelming ; Situation.” Meanwhile we can cooperate with those who are seck- ing to make it possible for students and families from the detention camps to move into the Middle West and other areas of the country which will accept them.. Our F. O. R. groups in inland areas can seek opportunities for students to enter. colleges, jobs into which individuals can move and openings for families to settle in new homes. Groups on the Pacific Coast in turn can contribute information about Japanese who would fit in especially weil in such a resettlement plan. All this information should be cleared through the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 2151 Vine St., Berkeley, Calif., from which it will be sent to whatever agencies are best able to deal with the individual case. In " order to have a family or individua? granted permission to come to a resettlement opening in the Middie West, the . Government authorities will wish to know what college will definitely accept a student, or what economic arrangements can be made, guaranteeing ‘a job or support; and what guarantees can be offered that the: reaction of the com- Mpunity to the introduction of a few Japanese will not be too adverse. All F. O. R. groups in the Middle West of- fering opportunities for resettlement will have to meet these conditions, and the best way to do it probably will ‘be to get a committee of prominent non-pacifist but Jiberal ministers, professors, etc., who will stand back of the plan. Immediate Action In seeking to bring about a change in the whole Govern- ment policy toward evacuation and continued detention, the best things to do are: Study the whole subject with your peace team with the help of this article, the Christian Century, particularly the April 1, 1942 issue, and the Tolan Committee report of March 19 {obtained by writing Tolan Committee investi- . ‘gating National Defense Migration, House Office Building, Washington, D. C.). . Bring the truth of what is happening before the public, . laying “the whole matter upon the conscience of the churches, in an atternpt to get focal churches, home mis- sion boards, etc., to realize the seriousness of the situation. - Protest in letters to the President, the Secretary of War, and your Congressmen, and in letters to newspapers and to friends. ; Oppose such local discriminations as the recent action of Governor Ratner, of Kansas, who banned Japanese and_ Japanese-Americans from that state. Here is a task of major importance for those who believe in love as the means of “discovering truth, dispelling antagonisms, and reconciling people, despite all dilferences,