Speech #880211390

Mr. President. the Inspiring history of Japanese immigration to the United States. and the contributions they and their Americanborn descendants have made to American progress and defense. is now being written under a project initiated by the Japanese American Citizens League. It is a firsttime study in depth of one of the outstanding success stories in American history. It will relate the struggles of immigrants who persevered in the face of discrimination and injustice. Although denied the privilege of naturalization until 1952 and although uprooted from their west coast homes and interned during World War II. the Japanese immigrants never lost faith in their adopted country. They reared their Americanborn children to become not only loyal and industrious bitizens of the United States but. when tested In time of war. brilliant combat troops second to none. The history now being compiled will chronicle the experiences primarily of the Japanese on the mainland United States. although portions will deal with the Japanese of Hawaii. But the success story applies equally as dramatically to the Issei immigrants and their Nisei sons and daughters in Hawaii. for they have made and are continuing to make notable contributions to the progress of their island State. Their conduct and record. particularly during World War II. were most outstanding. It would be very appropriate if a study was undertaken of Hawaiis Japanese. similar to that being written of the mainland Japanese.