Internment Of Japanese Canadians During World War II Was Necessary

Over the years, historians have studied and argued over whether the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II was necessary. Due to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour, and invasion in Hong Kong, Japanese Canadians were seen in the same light as the Japanese people who carried out those missions. As a result, over 22,000 Japanese Canadians were put into internment camps far away from their homes, from February 24, 1942 to 1949. While some of these citizens were japanese nationals, over three quarters were Canadian born, but without a doubt, they were all being associated with japan of the time, a country that would have been more foreign to them than Canada. Because of bias judgement and propaganda, they were being called “Enemy aliens”,

and were hated by a nation that they once were able to call home. Some argue that it was a necessary move to enforce the safety and security of Canadians, and to eliminate the possibility of betrayal, while others would argue that it was one of the most shameful and unnecessary suspension of human rights that the Canadian Government committed.

Many historians believe that the internment of Japanese Canadians in World War ll was a completely unjust act. Japanese Canadians were criticized and targeted by anti-japanese organizations even though there was no evidence to support their bias judgement. Many rumours and propaganda posters were spread around, evoking fear and negative feelings towards the Japanese Canadians. Furthermore, a letter written on August 5th, 1942 from S.T. Wood, a RCMP commissioner to W.S. Stevenson wrote “We have had no evidence of espionage or sabotage among the Japanese in British Columbia”, proving the internment camps to be unnecessary. Ken Adachi, who was interned in an internment camps as a child, wrote in his book about japanese history, The Enemy That Never Was: “The Battle of Midway on June 6th 1942, almost decisively disposed of any possibility that the Japanese might marshal the naval effort necessary for an invasion of North America”. The article also mentions that both Military leaders in Canada, and the United States were not expecting an invasion, once again proving the internment camps to be unnecessary. The living conditions of these camps were also very harsh. Having not broken any laws, all the Japanese Canadians were innocent citizens, yet they were practically treated like criminals. Families were broken apart, and they had to live with little to no water or electricity. Their property was also confiscated and sold without consent. Most Japanese Canadians were cooperative in handing over their property because of the belief that they would get them back after the war. However, fishing vessels, motorcycles, and household items were either sold or auctioned off, and their farm and land were sold at low prices in order to make sure japanese Canadians could not return home. The japanese canadians were treated unjustly, on top of being put into internment camps without evidence of crime, but simply because of the widespread anti-japanese feeling in Canada.

On the other hand, some historians would argue that the Japanese Canadian internment camps were necessary in order to ensure the security and safety of canada, after the invasion of Hong Kong, Malaysia, and attack on Pearl Harbour.

The camps were to eliminate any possibility of Japanese spies and threat to Canada. The War Measures Act gave full power and authority to the government to do anything to support the war, giving them the legal right to establish internment camps. It would have only taken one Japanese Canadian who decided to stay loyal to Japan to cause damage to Canada and it’s war efforts, thus the government didn’t want to take this risk. However, there were other reasons for putting Japanese Canadians in internment camps away from Canadians. Anti-Japanese groups such as the Standing Committee on Orientals believed rumours of Japan possibly invading North America. Rumours and propaganda was spread among Canadian citizens, evoking fear and an anti-japanese feeling across Canada. For example, a cartoon published in the Victoria Times Daily in 1942 shows a Canadian being murdered by a Japanese, evoking canadians’ fear towards the Japanese Canadians living in Canada. As a result, internment camps were established to not only eliminate risks against Canada, but to protect Japanese Canadians from possible harassment by anti-japanese groups. A Staff Committee in Ottawa also expressed that local authorities were “concerned less at the possibility of subversive activity by Japanese than at the danger of serious anti-Japanese outbreaks”. Despite the internment camps having poor living conditions, there were still adequate shelter, and Japanese Canadians were allowed to go out or be relocated to another camp with consent. Although there were anti-japanese feelings in Canada, Japanese Canadians were not being eliminated in these camps. Joy Kogawa, who was interned at one of these camps as a child, expressed in an interview that she remembers having happy memories

in the camps, amidst all the hatred the Japanese Canadian race was receiving. She said “Community when it's thrown together in adversity, does a great deal to survive psychically”, explaining how the internment camps were effective in protecting the Japanese Canadians psychologically, from the anti-japanese hatred and racism in Canada.

Although the Japanese internment camps in Canada were a dark part of Canada’s history, it was an inevitable event because of the pros outweighing the cons, in terms of the internment camps being established. The hatred and racism against Japanese Canadians was unnecessary, but there was no other way to take away the Canadians’ fear, then to put all the Japanese Canadians together, away from the rest of the Canadians. Violence and harassment ma have also been used by anti-japanese groups, if the government hadn’t done anything about this issue. If the internment camps were not put into place, there could have been japanese spies among the japanese Canadians, which could have lead to a negative impact on all of Canada, including the rest of the japanese Canadians. The government also had the legal rights and authority to do anything they had to in order to support the war. In this case, although the internment camps were harsh and had poor living conditions, they were necessary in order to ensure Canada’s safety, as well as the safety of the Japanese Canadians who were hated by many, across the nation.

In Conclusion, whether the Japanese internment camps in Canada were necessary or not, does not have a definite answer because everyone is entitled to their own judgement and view. Historians who argue over this topic themselves would also have their own way of perceiving information. It is also impossible to know whether or not the outcome would have been the same or not, if the internment camps were not put into place during World War II. However, both sides of the argument would agree that the conditions of these internment camps were unethical and harsh. This paper compares and analyzes information gathered from primary sources from World War II, and information that historians have gathered through research, as well as their viewpoints and opinions.