Japan and the California Problem Part 15

_Q._ You have to renounce the j.a.panese Emperor before you are seventeen?

_A._ I don't know a thing about it.

_Q._ You know, don't you, that you are claimed as a citizen by j.a.pan, and also by the United States.

_A._ I don't care. I was born here.

_Q._ Is it your intention to remain an American citizen or be a j.a.panese citizen?

_A._ Why shouldn't I remain an American? I was born here. Why should I go back there? This is my home here.

_Q._ You intend to remain an American citizen?

_A._ n.o.body is going to stop me.

_Q._ That's what I want to get at. Do you remember when you were first told that you were a native-born American citizen; do you remember when that was first told you?

_A._ I don't know.

_Q._ How long have you felt the pride that you are a young American citizen? How long have you held that feeling of pride?

_A._ Since I went to Grammar School.

_Q._ Has every young j.a.panese boy here expressed that feeling as you do to us; have you heard them talk about it?

_A._ They don't talk about it much. It is mostly their home training. My father and mother don't care whether I am an American. They would rather have me an American.

_Q._ And they have encouraged you to be an American?

_A._ Sure.

_Q._ And your teachers have?

_A._ Oh, yes, naturally.

_Q._ And you like the idea?

_A._ Sure.

_Q._ Your father and mother intend to remain here all their lives, do they, as far as you know?

_A._ Well, I would like to have them go back and see their home once again, but that is about all. I don't know what I can do.

_Q._ (Mr. Vaile.) As far as you know, their own intention is to live here, except for a visit home, perhaps, the rest of their lives?

_A._ Yes, sir.

_Q._ Suppose you visit j.a.pan. You know, don't you, that the j.a.panese Emperor still claims you as his subject? Suppose you are required to render military service to j.a.pan, what would be your position on that subject?

_A._ It would be a pretty difficult one, but I will get out of it.

_Q._ Following that, suppose you were required to render military service to the United States, what will be your position?

_A._ I will get in.

_Q._ Exactly. We are glad to meet you. Good luck to you.

(_Witness Excused._)

APPENDIX M

COMPARATIVE STANDING OF INTELLIGENCE AND BEHAVIOR OF AMERICAN-BORN j.a.pANESE CHILDREN AND AMERICAN CHILDREN DISCUSSED BY SEVERAL PRINc.i.p.aLS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

_Request Sent to the Board of Education of Los Angeles, California._

December 24, 1920.

President of the Board of Education, Los Angeles, California.

MY DEAR SIR:

I am collecting data on the intellectual and moral status of American-born j.a.panese children. Among the data the most important, I need hardly say, are their school records.

I shall highly appreciate your courtesy if you will be pleased to provide me with the valuable information you have at your command bearing on the subject. What I am particularly interested in is the average record of American-born j.a.panese children and its comparison with the record of American children.

Yours very respectfully, (Signed) T. IYENAGA.

_Method of Gathering Material_

December 31, 1920.

DEAR MR. SHAFER:

May I trouble you to select two of your schools in which you have the largest j.a.panese attendance and secure for me at your earliest possible convenience data as to the number of j.a.panese children in those schools and the points about them that are touched upon in the accompanying letter?

My thought is this--that if we secure records from two or three schools where we have the largest j.a.panese attendance, this will suffice as a basis for decision as to the other such schools.

MRS. DORSEY.

January 7, 1921.