Halford Wilson Correspondence 1942 (Jan)

This file contains a textual record.

This file contains correspondence between Halford Wilson and other official and British Columbians concerning the “Oriental question.” Included in this file is an editorial by W.P. Kirkpatrick in which he supports the removal of Japanese-Canadians from the coast to be sent to the interior of British Columbia or the prairies to work on farms or road building. The Portland Oregon Department of Finance forwarded to Wilson a copy of their policy on issuing licences to “Japanese and other aliens”; and H. Aish, representing Matsqui Businesses regrets that their resolution concerning licences for Japanese-Canadian business “did not go through as anticipated". Another letter from an American visitor (9 January 1942) complains about “foreign born” Japanese working at the local post office. The South Vancouver chapter of the Army and Navy Veterans’ Association pledge their support “the transfer of all Japanese Residents to, without the coast border”; as well as support from the Teen-Age War Veterans League in Canada and the North Burnaby Junior Board of Trade. Most letters are in support of Wilson’s “stand on the Japanese in B.C. question” and his efforts to “Intern them all” (9 January 1942). File also includes a generic reply from Wilson to his supporters.

Wilson, Halford David, 1904-1988 created this archive during his time as a Vancouver politician.

The digital copies of the records were acquired by the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective between 2014 and 2018.

This record was digitized in full.