Tatsuo Onotera to Mr. F G Shears, 10 July 1944

P. O. Box 371, Greenwood, B. C. July 10, 1944.

Department of the Secretary of State,

Office of the Custodian,

I have received your statement of May 30th regarding the sale of my brother's and my property.

It was a shock and surprise as I had no previous notice or correspondence on the matter. I knew different properties were being sold of former coast Japanese, but I didn't think for a moment that such a thing as this was possible. I feel as a Canadian citizen born and raised here that I could have at least been notified I have been brought up as any one of your other citizens believing this a fair and Democratic country, but the way we are being treated I have my doubts.

We have been paying taxes on the property for over 20 years based on the value appraised by your assessor. The assessed value before we built the house was $1200.00 now with the house costing us over $2000.00 I figure the value of the property would be at least $3000.00. How do you think I feel when I got your letter saying our house and land was sold for $632.00. "How would you have felt?" "Isn't there no such thing as fair play in this world of to-day?" The buildings alone are worth four or five times more than what the whole property was sold for.

It is my wish, Sir, that this transaction be left till after the war. So that I may get a fair judgment from fairer minds.

(Signed) "Tatsuo Onotera"