Munson Report facts for kids

The Report on Japanese on the West Coast of the United States, often known as the Munson Report, was a special document written in 1941. It was created by Curtis B. Munson, a businessman from Chicago. He was asked by the State Department to find out how loyal Japanese Americans were. These families lived in Hawaii and along the West Coast of the United States, especially in California. Munson gave his report to the White House on November 7, 1941. This was exactly one month before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

Why the Report Was Needed

By late 1941, it was clear that Japan and the United States might go to war. World War II had already begun. Japan had invaded China in 1937. Germany had invaded Poland in 1939.

In July 1941, the United States, Britain, and the Dutch East Indies stopped all exports to Japan. This included important oil supplies. American military intelligence had even cracked Japan's secret military codes. A message from September 24, 1941, showed that Pearl Harbor might be a target.

Because of these worries, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Curtis Munson for help. Munson's job was to check the loyalty of Japanese Americans. Many of these families lived near military bases and important factories.

What Munson Found

Curtis Munson traveled to Hawaii and the Pacific Coast. He talked to many people. These included Army and Navy intelligence officers. He also spoke with military leaders, city officials, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Munson's findings were surprising to some. He concluded that "There is no Japanese problem on the West Coast." He also wrote that there was "a remarkable, even extraordinary degree of loyalty among this generally suspect ethnic group." This meant he found Japanese Americans to be very loyal to the United States.

The Munson Report was shared with several important government officials. These included Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. It also went to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox. Others who saw it were Attorney General Francis Biddle and Secretary of State Cordell Hull.

What Happened Next

On February 5, 1942, Secretary Stimson sent a copy of the Munson Report to President Roosevelt. He also sent a note saying that officials had studied the report carefully.

However, just two weeks later, on February 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 was signed. This order led to the internment of Japanese Americans. This meant many Japanese American families were forced to leave their homes and live in special camps. It is possible that President Roosevelt only read Stimson's short note, and not the full report itself.