Iwao Yamamoto and Iwao Yamamoto to Mr. George Peter, 22 June 1944

Iwao Yamamoto and Iwao Yamamoto to Mr. George Peter, 22 June 1944

COPY for Mr. Shears.
File No. 9086
Iwao Yamamoto Reg. No. 01733 Coleman P. O. Box 27, Toronto, Ontario. June 22nd, 1944.
Mr. George Peter,
Administration Dept. of
Dear Sir:
Re: Catalogue No. 854 Chatham St. & 3rd Avenue 8/8/10/B3N/R7W/249
I have duly received your letter dated June 13/44 to which I regret to say that I can not accept your request of sending my title no. 148605-E.
The reasons are as follows:
1. I doubt why the Custodian is arranging to sale my property without the presentation of your assessment on my property and my consent.
2. And in exchequer court at Ottawa, Justice Thatson declared to reserve the verdict of the sale of Canadian Born Japanese property.
I believe that it wouldn't be out of place to refering the words of which Mr. MacLennan declared in the said court that "The sales might be justified as a protective measure if owners would otherwise suffer loss, but not in the case of property supporting itself and liquidated without the owner's consent."
The above is the sound argument by the law of Canada I believe, and for instance, would have my property been sold including furniture less than $700.00 I would suffer a great loss, because my house & land cost me more than $600.00. But the Custodian are going to sale my property by the power of Crown or the so-called War measure act, I hope, you will send me the assessment of it and in that case, you will pay the special attention to my furniture which Mr. Merriman using them nearly 2 years.
Then I will reconsider about the sale of my property, and your request of sending my title to your office.
In the letter I received I felt something like a "veil threat of Democracy" especially in dealing of my property.
Thank you very much for your information and ask for the continuance of your assistance on the matter of my property.
Looking forward with keen interest hearing from you re above in your earliest convenience.
Yours remain,

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Iwao Yamamoto and Iwao Yamamoto to Mr. George Peter, 22 June 1944

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Encoder: Ariel Merriam
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Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.