Editor:
Re: No apology for wartime relocation, May 22 letters.
Letter-writer David Poole argues that in 1942 the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour necessitated the relocation of Canadian Japanese from the West Coast.
At that time, most civilians lived in fear of Japanese aggression, not unreasonable considering that Japan had annexed Korea and seemed well on their way to doing the same to China.
Organizations like the RCMP, however, pronounced the Canadian Japanese community in B.C. as not a danger to national security.
Nonetheless, bowing to domestic pressure, Prime Minister Mackenzie King ordered relocation.
In 1944, the prime minister addressed the House of Commons and admitted that no act of subversion or sabotage had occurred before or during the war. Indeed, Canadian Japanese attempted to enlist in the army, and later served with distinction in the Far East.
After the war, Ottawa convinced 3,700 Japanese nationals, naturalized Canadians and Canadian-born to voluntarily go to Japan, an event characterized by Norman Hillmer and Jack Granatstein in their book, Empire to Umpire, as “the most shameful aspect of the whole miserable affair.” Not surprising, just like the Acadians 200 years previously, many of these people came back to Canada, for that was truly their home.
Today their descendents stroll through Stanley Park and visit the plaque that commemorates the 53 Canadian Japanese who died in the First World War fighting for Canada. As they think about their grandfathers and great-uncles, one can only imagine what goes through their minds.
Bob Burgel, Surrey