1945 11 29 Letter from Morris to Conard about Renunciants

1945 11 29 Letter from Morris to Conard about Renunciants

Renunciants

Morris to discusses the history for how renunciation of U.S. citizenship was created by the WRA as an option for Japanese Americans in camps. It was a response to threats of much more grave legislation to allow for the automatic deportation of all enemy aliens. It was configured in order to make it difficult to renounce, but many did renounce, especially at Tule Lake, which was a surprise to the WRA.  It is thought that many were forced to renounce allegiance by militants within the camps.  It wil be hard to figure out whether some Japanese Americans (nisei) are stateless people if they did not have Japanese citizenship.  Morris hopes that this will stop people from being deported, although he is not confident that citizenship can be easily re-gained for those who did renounce.

Home L. Morris

Nov 29, 1945

American Friends Service Committee Archives in Philadelphia