Canada at War: THE DOMINION: Decision

As quietly as if he were getting up to stretch his legs, Prime Minister Mackenzie King rose in the House, announced a definite program on an important question—what his Government intends to do about its Japs:

¶ There will be absolutely no more immigration from Japan. This is a desirable policy, said Mr. King, although it should not be stated as binding for all time to come.

¶ A special commission will determine which Japs have been loyal to Canada and which Japs disloyal. The disloyal Japs, citizens or not, will be deported to Japan, whether born there or not. The loyal Japs will be treated justly. “No person of Japanese origin,” the Prime Minister remarked, “born in Canada, has yet been charged with any act of sabotage or disloyalty.”

¶ Before war’s start, 22,096 of Canada’s 23,149 Japs lived in British Columbia. Such concentration, said Mr. King, will not be permitted again. “[The Japs] will have to settle in such a way . . . that they do not present themselves as an unassimilable bloc. . . .”

The policy would not wholly satisfy British Columbia extremists, who want all Japs—citizens and aliens, loyal and disloyal—expelled. Neither would it wholly please those who urge equal rights for all races. Great Compromiser King had stuck to middle ground. But at least he had a stated policy. That was something the U.S. still lacked.

Some 2,000 Japs who had been evacuated to Alberta from British Columbia after war’s start had a unique experience this week. In British Columbia they had never been permitted to vote. But since they had met all voting requirements (citizenship, a year’s residence in the Province, etc.), they could vote in Alberta’s Provincial election.