Munson Report

 

 

The Munson Report was an investigation into the loyalty of the Japanese American population, initiated when it appeared that the United States might be thrown into the Second World War, and an attack on Pearl Harbor was a likelihood. The investigation was led by Curtis. B. Munson, and the objective was to discover the extent of Japanese American loyalty to the United States government. The Report concluded that on the whole the Japanese American population was extremely loyal, and to be trusted: "there is no Japanese problem." However, despite these findings, they appeared to have been ignored by those who had access to the information. The information was only disclosed to the State, War and Navy Departments, and according to Weglyn,, "Cordell Hull, Henry. L. Stimson and Frank Knox, who then headed these posts, were to end up being the most determined proponent of evacuation." (Weglyn, Years of Infamy 34.) Hence Weglyn speculate whether the findings were intentionally kept secret in order for the American government to justify the internment of the Japanese American population. Weglyn considers the suggestion  that the Japanese American population were interned, in order for the American government to use them as a 'hostage reserve', in order to bargain for better conditions for American prisoners of war, or even exchange the internees for American G.I's.