The sixth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Japanese Problems was held in the Privy Council Chamber, on Friday, January 10, 1947, at 11:00 a.m.

Present:
The Minister of Labour,
(Mr. H. Mitchell) in the chair, The Minister of Veterans Affairs, (Mr. I.A. Mackenzie).
The Solicitor General,
(Mr. J. Jean),
Also present:
The Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs
(Mr. L.B. Pearson),
The Deputy Minister of Labour,
(Mr. A. MacNamara).
From Prime Minister's Office.
(Mr. R.G. Robertson),
From Dept. of Labour,
(Mr. A.H. Brown).
From Dept. of External Affairs, (Mr. A.R. Menzies),
From Department of Justice.
(Mr. D.W. Mundell),
(Mr. D.H.W. Henry),
Counsel to Custodian of Enemy Property,
(Mr. K.W. Wright),
From Dept. of Veterans Affairs, (Mr. O.C. Elliott),
From Privy Council Office,
(Mr. Raymond Ranger, Secretary)

I. DEPORTATION AND CONTROL OVER MOVEMENT OF JAPANESE

The Minister of Labour reviewed the reports (Documents "A" †. and "Bl"†) on the repatriation and relocation or Japanese and recommended:

(a) that Japanese who do not wish to he repatriated he not deported; and

(b) that the control over movement of Japanese he continued for a year or two until these persons had become more settled in their new locations. (Documents "A" and "BI" circulated December 13, 1946).

2. The Committee, after considerable discussion, agreed to make the following recommendations to Cabinet:

(a) that no action be taken to deport any persons of Japanese race under Order-in-Council P.C. 7355, December 15, 1945, but that financial assistance, authorized to voluntary repatriates, be continued under Order-in-Council P.C. 7355; and

(b) that control over movement in Canada of Japanese persons be continued for a year or two.

. . .

III. STATUS OF CANADIAN JAPANESE RETURNING TO CANADA

5. Mr. Robertson inquired as to the status of Canadian Japanese who, at their request, were repatriated to Japan, and now wished to return to Canada.

6. Mr. Pearson stated that, due to the fact that these persons were Canadian, they could not be refused permission to return to Canada. He explained, however, that it was most difficult to obtain passage to Canada, and that these persons would not be able to return for some time.

7. Mr. Robertson further inquired if naturalized Canadians of Japanese origin, who had been repatriated, could not be considered as having been deported, in which case they would come under Order-in-Council P.C. 7356, December 15, 1945, which provides that all naturalized Canadians of Japanese origin, deported from Canada, lost their citizenship upon deportation.

8. After considerable discussion, the Committee agreed that this question be referred to the Secretary of State Department and Justice Department for further study, and that a report be made to this Committee as soon as possible.

. . .

RAYMOND RANGER
Secretary