Ann Sunahara Dictating EAA Doucuments, interviewed by Ann Sunahara, 01 January 1976

Letter to the Department of External Affairs from evacuees. Names will be obliterated. Names will be changed to initials. In page flip External Affairs File 34-64-AC-40. Dated November 2nd, 1945. To Department of External Affairs Ottawa , Ontatio . Dear Sir, may I present to you here without a case which I wish to get your special attention. Names given- Missing audio. 00:00:52.917

Husband, wife, and three children. Two in their twenties, the youngest ten. Events which had taken place December 7th, 1941 and October 9th, 1945 are listed. December 7, 1941. Dad was interned. May 17, 1941. Mother and M and S were evacuated to Kaslo , British Columbia at one of the interior housing centres. In June of 1942 my father requested for the repatriation for the whole family. At that time we were notified that an exchange ship would resume (?) JRIPSHOLIM was to tell evacuees to Japan in September of that year. We haven’t given the thought to repatriation or relocation since. January 1945. Family made application for relocation through the BC Security Commission through Kaslo . Applications were rejected, owing to the repatriation request made in June of 1942. February 26, 1945. Family and two other internee families were ordered to move to Tashme to mark the initial step to close Kaslo. At this time the family was so self-supporting (ever since November 1943). I was employed in the newspaper office ( The New Canadian ). And my brother was working in Mr. (?)’s private mill. Previously, both my brother and myself were on the BC Commission payrolls until we were evacuated in October of 1943. We were not a maintenance case. Our family was respected highly. Our mother (?) when the Japanese evacuees in Kaslo. To confirm this please inquire Supervisor Mr. (?) Morrison. MORRISON, Mr. AL MACEPHEE of the board of trade, and the four BCSC supervisor of Kalso now in New Dever . Both Mr. Morrison and Mr. McPhee are still in Kaslo. March 8, 1944. (?) travelled. Family arrived in Tashme. April 13, 1945. Family did not sign repatriation papers. Commonly expressed our desires to be relocated east of the Rockies to join our relatives in (?). August 1945. I was informed by the supervisor of the Department of Labour in Tashme that (both?) Canadian born and internee countries want to go down east, who did not sign the repatriation papers now relocate east of the Rockies. However, wives of the internees, regardless of your statement, cannot relocate east of the Rockies at present. This was quoted from a letter received from Ottawa by a Supervisor, Walster Hasley of Tashme, BC . AJURTLY. October 9, 1945. M and myself. This is an aside. The two kids in their twenties. M and myself left Tashme to join our relatives. (?) Address is given. We feel very fortunate we were finally able to come out to Ontario . My brother is already working at Daring company. And I shall be working from next week. Now I am begging to have your assistance to bring our parent and sister rejoin us. For the past months I have been writing to (?) to make available the release of dad from the internment. Results so far have been satisfactory. No one seems to know the reason for the satisfactory replies I receive.

We still do not know why dad has been interned in the first place. He had been very active while residing in New Westminster and promoting goodwill between the Occidental and the Japanese. He was known in various circles. For references please write to Reverend W. Williams . 1716 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver , British Columbia . And Mr. Saburo Shinobu . 15 Howland Avenue, Toronto , Ontario . And Mr. Takaichi Umezuke. The New Canadian , 504 Talbot Avenue, Winnipeg , Manitoba . My mother has been active as the executive on the Parent Teachers Associations for many years. She is at present, only education for the Tashme elementary school sponsored by the Department of Labour in Tashme , BC . (?) family been to the United Church . Both my brother and myself has been (?) Sunday School and teaching (?). My brother has been working in the sawmill while I am employed by the general office in Tashme (?) for our departure. Our friendship with the Occidental has been very pleasant. For reference please inquire Mrs. May MacLachlan , Miss. Katherine Greenbank , and Mr. Walter Hartley , supervisor of Tashme, BC. We have Tashme in order to comply with the government’s dispersal policy and also to enjoy normal living and normal surroundings. It is up to us to support our parents and our sister. We would very much like our sister to be educated properly and be educated to be a good citizen of Canada . We must have our parents with us as soon as they are allowed to. Dad has a slight case of cancer trouble and it is up to us to look after his medical. While the whole family, when the whole family reunites under the same roof we are intending to take over Mr. Wilson’s farm. Mother cannot stay much longer in the damp atmosphere like Tashme. We would like her to be out of this waterate climate before anything serious should happen to her. Phone or alarm ringing in the background. For we are not guaranteed we can return to British Columbia if any cases of sickness or deaths (occur?) within the family. If and when our case is presented, we earnestly seek your special permission to have consideration to have our family reunion made possible. If there are omissions, I shall be willing to be attending to it if you so desire. I shall be anxiously waiting for your reply in regard to the above matter. I am very respectfully yours- Missing audio. 00:07:44.250

Excerpts from the letter addressed to Mr. Earnest Maag of Canada International Red Cross (?) Montreal , Quebec . From the camp at . During your interview with the Lemon Creek Hakko-kai, I asked for a personal interview with you but was (?) without success. In order to do so, I decided to write a letter which you took after the completion of the tour. This letter concerns the release of my husband H. M. and my two sons, T. M. and O. M. from the Angler camp . I have not yet received your reply regarding this letter. Kindly answer my letter for my anxiously waiting mind. I read in the New Canadian , Kaslo Newspaper’s last week’s issue that (?) of the internees who wishes release were (?) (randomly?) by New Canadian . My husband and two sons asked for their release last year continuously. But the only answer to them was the letter will be kept on file. During the past month they have asked several times but no definite reply has been received. Since they have been asking for their release, they may have been granted their request but this is principle matter which I will like to extend is that I have signed for repatriation. This occurred when my son, who was just entering his junior highschool, wished to work for his fees (?). Since I have not been able to support his highschool entry fees, I thought (?) learning himself. But I had not signed any forms because that’s not what my husband would indefinitely do. Consequently my son was unable to leave the community because of my singing problem. Because he was not able to go I signed for repatriation only thinking it was the only way to let my son have his necessary highschool education. This is the only reason I signed the form. If my husband and sons are granted definite release from their present location, I wish to reestablish east of the Rockies as one happy family. I presume you have already interviewed my husband who is also doing his utmost for our family reunion.

Our separation for four years has been a very unhappy years. And our only wish now is for family reunion. I ask your kindness and consideration and I also ask for your support for the release of my husband and two sons. I thank you. Yours truly- Audio break. 00:10:23.271

Date of letter, July 20th, 1945. Audio break. 00:10:29.708

Letter to Louis Saint Laurent , December 18, 1944 from Tashme . Dear Sir, My husband K (Kay?) was apprehended by authority near (?) in 1942 and since interned in camp (?) one. The incident was not long since I had underwent an abdominal operation which had infected in causing neurasthenia(?). I have since, and especially after the evacuation, complained of brain trouble and (?) declining eyesight. Under such state of physical condition and more so with the absence of my husband for the last two and a half years, especially in the circumstances we are in, the task of carrying out daily house duties, mothering of my two children has been somehow managed. This, I have been convincing myself, was only achieved by spiritual energy and the responsibility, that I was their mother. It has been (?) physically and has been causing considerably declining my eyesight. It has come to a stage of impossibility to endure a short walk shopping for daily necessities. For this fact I must compel to contact a local physician and he has diagnosed my case as severe neurasthenia, a same diagnoses given by a previous physician, and has advised hospitalization. However, when I come to think what baneful influence the mass community of here is affecting upon the childrens of (?) my responsibility (?) to my children, I am unable to take advantage unless I have my husband returned to me. The two children of mine are in the year I consider as critical of all years of their lives, the necessity of the sound guardianship of their parents which is their rights and privileges and in the name of democracy (?) this may become true to them. For this reason I would like to enter the hospital for medical attention before it becomes too late, I am hereby asking your opinion to do pardon my husband so as he may be able to return to me and the children. I am hoping you know that this request of mine be granted in your (?) since your (?) as I am. Audio break. 00:13:16.094

Letter was also sent to the Consul General of Spain , Count Morales, the Honorable Miguel Espelius. Audio break. 00:13:31.281

Morales being spelt as M-O-R-A-L-E-S. Audio break. 00:13:35.573

In the same file under November 3rd, 1944, confidential letter between (?) Deputy Minister and the other secretary for External Affairs (?) Mr. Rive , Special Section. That’s R-I-V-E. I (we?) should've known your letter of request (?) concerning a request from Mrs. K of Tashme , BC wishes her husband be released from internment. According to our current policy, our application for Japanese release from internment are examined by a committee of RCMP and the Department of Labour officials. And consideration is given only where there are special compassionate circumstances as it is felt needed. In general the release of Japanese internees should not be permitted until the proposed loyalty (?) has considered their individual cases. An application for release was received from the internee K (Kay?), dated September 1944. As the RCMP file on this man indicated sentiments were pro-Japanese and he has indicated (?) to go back to Japan (?) no action taken for his application for release. End of letter. Audio break. 00:14:46.4667

The previous letter from Mrs. K dated October(?) 1944 gives that the children are ages 11 and 12. Audio break. 00:14:55.177

Correspondence with respect to a family. Whos father and two sons are interned.

(?) External Affairs (POW) Ottawa , Ontario . October 18, 1944. Names are given. In reply pertaining to your request in your letter 34-64-AC40, dated 13th of October. Following information regarding the government of internees. The father is a Japanese. And the father of the other two interees who are Canadian born. The father (?) was offered his release in July 1943 under condition he accept (?) offered by the BC Securities Commission . He declined to accept his release. Two sons have not been offered release. M Senior has written to the Justice Minister he (?) relocate with his family wherever he may be directed to do so. Provided he and his two sons are (?) to visit his family for two to three weeks. This request has been filed under (?) advised. Such information as available from this (?) indicate that the in family, both interned and (?), are strongly pro-Japanese. There is no indication that whatever that these people (?) can be Canadians. The father seems to be as restrained as any of the families in spite of his Japanese birth- Missing audio? 00:16:40.990

Clattering of something. The sisters have constantly advised the brothers to remain in internment. (?) Japanese employed in BC . Mumbles. Audio break. 00:17:03.617

A note from Mr. Rive . Dated December 17th, 1943. (?) the priest had a petition to have (?) release of the above (?) priest of Kaslo . I (?) as requested. She is in complete agreement with the attitude you suggested we should take. (?) preferential treatment as internees. And are compared to be better off than nationals in other territories or Japanese territories. She believes that there is a possibility of conditions that were sent by Japanese (?). Rejection of such petition as the on in question. She suggests the man be released to Kaslo because it can cause trouble, he would be interned. To be sure, it is believed that none of our parents far east were permitted function as such, except sounds within their own confine. However a comparison can only be relevant. We gather from conversation (?) to be a (MAT?) that these priests cause trouble by urging non-cooperation of the authorities. That was their opposed, for example the scattering flock, is a moving or directly compelled to move east to obtain employment. However, as you point out we must not to jeopardize the present (?) their intolerable (?) how difficult it is here. Signed NAB with a note AEKS. Audio break. 00:18:52.943

And Norman Robertson ’s acknowledgments. Missing audio? 00:18:59.653

The second note from Mr. Rive dated December 8th, (?). Reads, The final (?) for the (?) except for questions raised by Mr. Scotts, (?) suggests the man remains interned because of the specific (?) by the BCSC - probably suggesting an attempt (?) labour. Such an (?) seems plausible to me although it seems to me there was a difference between A. refusing (?) and B. Offering (?) taken on security grounds. I suggested phoning Mr. Hamilton again and (?) is the only information here. Audio break. 00:19:46.362

(?) as our only information here. Is only vaguely convinced in the defense’s letter and Mr. Scott thought the dispatch should be forwarded to you as it's written. Perhaps the difficulty would we avoided by adverting defense’s worthy which was what I thought, perhaps mistaking (too vague, namely M has declined employment available.) Audio break. 00:20:12.591

(?) quote, Signed MAB missing audio and another illegible one. Flipping paper. In this letter talking is the Buddhist priest. The petition in question has 200 signatures and was submitted to the British Columbia Securities Commission at Kaslo . Missing audio. 00:20:36.781

This is (?) letter to the Department of External Affairs . Shgahart Colonel Prisoners of War. To the Department of External Affairs by (?) Special, POW ( Ottawa , dated December 1st, 1943) Audio break. 00:20:59.323

Letters directed to the Department of External Affairs in this file. Mostly requesting release from internment of people- Missing audio? 00:21:06.677 Of people who are either interned and ill or who’s family members- Missing audio? 00:21:12.135 Or who’s family members are ill and require that the person be released from camp in order to support his family. Missing audio? 00:21:24.635 Including for the price of (?) who self-interned themselves. A letter from Lemon Creek, January 26, 1943 addressed to the Consul General of Spain (?). 115 (?) Street, Montreal . Contains the following quote, My husband had no reason whatsoever to be interned, he went with his own free will, thinking it was the proper thing for him to do. I wouldn't have ever parted from him earlier if I had known (?) my baby. When I found out (?) it was already too late for me to do anything about it. Audio break. 00:22:05.552

A letter, Norman Robertson to the Deputy Minister of Justice in Ottawa . Missing audio? 00:22:18.406 October 28, 1942. Reference in part, You will note that the Consul General (telegram?) of the internment of the Japanese. Our understanding is that although it was necessary to intern (?) Japanese were refusing the evacuation order, a number of those interned were not really considered dangerous by the police and that there would be no serious objection to some of them being released to rejoin their families provided they are (?) to adopt (?) people in the community. Audio break. 00:22:53.677

Further in the letter, The Spanish Consul General representing the protecting power for Japanese interests in Canada has as inquired some of the interned Japanese might be released and feels it would be wise to review the policy and the cases of the interned Japanese subjects and to release a fair number, especially those who are heads of families, if there is no objection (?). If it seems likely that some of them would’ve learnt their lesson then will now be able to act circumstantially. Audio break. 00:23:25.885

Further (?) release of some Japanese subjects would be a gesture which would be a help in our prison to get appreciation provided it could be arranged in the near future. The present negotiation referred to as a negotiation for exchange with Japanese of Canadian nationals from Japan and Japanese occupied territories. Audio break. 00:23:52.990

A note from SMS. That means (?). To Mr. Rive , we 10 Jap women petitioned. I am afraid I have never understood your program on this matter and can only tell you what. 10 Jap women have petitioned the CG of the release of their husbands. They are all Japanese nationals. All were interned for the same offense – continued refusal to work. The CG has passed to us with the recommendation (?) be true, it be granted. I presume you passed the petition with the (?) Department of Justice. Whether you plan to make a recommendation for our plan now. CG will have to be insert. Date, October 19th, 1942.

Censor given by the Canadian Postal Censorship program in Ottawa , Ontario . (?) boyfriend stationed in northern Ireland in the armed forces. Dated January 30, 1941. Letter comes from New Westminster , BC . You’re going to be dammed annoyed by this, but the Japs here have not been round up. Their fishing boats have been confiscated for a duration, that’s all. They have pledged their loyalty. How sweet. Damn it all blood is thicker than water. Needless to say the people are (open?) arms against it. Audio break. 00:25:45.260

It was picked up by the United Kingdom , the censorship section. Not the Canadian censorship section.