Atlantis, sorry about that! Here's another download link:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kzje3m
Hopefully, that one will work!
Here's what the March 18, 1942 Consolation had to say about the "suspicious" Japanese in America. (For background: A history of the events that led up to the internment of Japanese Americans can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_American_internment )
Consolation said:
But Suspicious
Japanese have had spyphobia for some time, with rather annoying results to resident
and visiting aliens, who found themselves followed by plain-clothes men,
stopped by police at almost every important crossroad and generally harassed,
but always given profuse apologies when they took the matter to the
police station. This was the experience of an American family that for years had
lived in Japan, and spoke Japanese fluently.
This suspicion is but a reflection of the fact that many Japanese themselves
are not on the up-and-up in their activities in America. It is those that are subversive
themselves that on the slightest provocation suspect and accuse others of
being subversive. Japanese activities in California have been organized in such
a way as to give them every opportunity to spy on America under cover of being
fishermen, small businessmen or what not. An article in Friday magazine of
May 9, 1941, called attention to the extent of Japanese espionage and fifthcolumn
activity in Mexico and California. Germans were often in evidence along
with these Japan-directed activities. There was much photographing being
done by "camera enthusiasts" and the films were brought to Japanese stores
to be developed. It was easy to get to Japan from Manzanillo.
Japanese born in Japan but now living in America, particularly in California,
may have America for their physical home, but Japan is their spiritual home,
and claims their religious and patriotic loyalty. They try to indoctrinate their
children with the same viewpoint, but not always with success. An article in Ken
magazine of May 4, 1939, claimed that the Japanese in California are exceptionally
industrious, moral, easily assimilated, and that those of American birth are
becoming valuable and increasingly loyal citizens. What effect the war may have
on the picture is another question.
Ken, in its issue of ,June 22, however, revealed that native Americans, some of
whom are U. S. Army reserve officers, were co-operating with Japanese, German
and Italian agents on the west coast in secret activities pointing to a plan for
attacking the United States. It stated that present and former reserve officers
of the American armed forces were building and helping to arm a secret army
within the United States. The setup was complete, linking the German, Italian
and Japanese consulates. They were all ostensibly interested in Communist activity
in the United States, and by Americans, which was none of their business.
At the same time secret Japanese, Nazi and Italian agents were storing drums of
a German-made chemical near the naval and air base at San Diego, capable of
sinking the American fleet without firing a single shot. Japanese navy officers
were issuing orders to Japanese "farmers" just south of the American border
to get more land for building emergency airfields.
The same paper mentioned that the Shiriya, a J a p an e s e "naval" vessel,
claimed immunity from search when it was in port, and at sea mysteriously
changed its course, taking its oil cargo to an undisclosed destination in the
Pacific. When in port its officers had mysterious conferences in a Tia Juana dance hall.
Seattle Churches Praise Them
The Seattle Council of Churches, probably under the "spiritual" leadership of
Bishop Shaughnessy, in November lauded the good character of the Japanese
in the Pacific Northwest and assured them of the sympathy and co-operation
of the church, saying, "Please do not hesitate to confer with any Christian
pastor relative to any problem that may arise."
But a newsletter published under date of July 9,1941, points out that there are
approximately 90,000 Nisei (American citizens of Japanese ancestry) on the
West Coast. of whom two-thirds held dual citizenship. In private Japanese language
schools it was found that two sets of textbooks were on hand. One set was
shown to investigators and contained nothing objectionable, while the set actually
used preached loyalty to Japan and its "god emperor" and t r e a s o n
against the American government. Here is a sample :
As citizens of this country (Japan) and offsprings of this (Japanese) nation, we
admire its brilliance. Our national language cannot be forgotten in our hearts, not even
for a single day, especially if we remember that we are children of Gods. The objective
of Japanese education, no matter in what country it may be, is to teach the people
never to be ashamed of their Japanese citizenship. First comes language, and then history.
We must never forget-not even for a moment-that we are Japanese citizens…
Be thankful you are a Japanese, and worship the Imperial family.
This trick of dual citizenship is a trick that has immense possibility for harm.
It is a trick that has long been used by the Hierarchy and its religious orders.
The Catholic population may be less culpable in this matter, but it is often a
matter of uncertainty where the loyalty of a person lies whose religious allegiance
is so closely identified with the totalitarian spirit of a foreign hierarchy
that is religio-political in its aims and objectives.
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Sadly, the Watchtower Society was following the spirit of the times in casting suspicion on all people of Japanese descent then living in America. Consolation noted that the Seattle Council of Churches had offered support for Japanese Americans. This was followed by a quick rebuttal in the article to that idea.
Jehovah's Witnesses are often lauded for their concern for human rights and freedoms. Often, however, it's a concern that's only for themselves and not for others as this case shows.
