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RESERVE BANK OF SAN FRANCISCO FISCAL AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES Evacuee Property Department March 11, 1942. Memorandum of Functions and Operations of the Evacuee Property Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco as Fiscal Agent of the United States, and Suggested Procedure for Cooperation of Other Banks in Administration of Evacuation Program. In its operations as Fiscal Agent of the United States the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has been delegated the duty of assisting Japanese, German and Italian aliens and persons of Japanese ancestry evacuating from the Military Areas which have been designated by Headquarters Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, Presidio of San Francisco, California, in Public Proclamation No. 1, issued under date of March 2,1942, in arranging for the protection, preservation and equitable disposition of the property holdings of such evacuees. In this operation, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is subject to the general direction of the military authorities. The following general outline of procedure has been established for the administration of this program: 1. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will not take possession of property of an evacuee as an alien property custodian, but will serve largely as an advisor to the evacuee in the matter of disposition of his property. 2. All dealings with the evacuee will be on a purely voluntary basis, and he will have complete freedom in disposing of his property. 3. The evacuee will be encouraged in his own interest to make private arrangements for the disposition of his property by sale, lease, or other appropriate means by either: (a) Independent action of the evacuee on his own account, or (b) Through an agent of the evacuee's own selection. 4. In the selection of an agetit the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will recommend the appointment by the evacuee of some person or institution in which the evacuee reposes confidence to represent his interests such as his bank, his attorney, or his real estate agent. 5. If an evacuee is unable to otherwise arrange for the equitable disposal of his property or for an agent acceptable to the evacuee to represent him, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will give consideration to accepting his power of attorney. 6. Each case will be considered on its individual merits and disposed of on that basis. 7. All advice and assistance possible will be provided the evacuee by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and it is expected that the banks and others within the Areas involved who are approached by evacuees for assistance will likewise extend their full assistance and cooperation to the end that the purpose of the program will be completely served. It is recognized that the assistance of the banks in thefieldwill make for greater speed in the execution of the program. 8. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will endeavor to advise and assist banks and others whom the evacuees select as their agents in the performance of their agencies. Obviously, if the banks and others within the Military Areas who are approached by evacuees to act as agents will accept such agencies, the entire program will benefit. 9. From time to time the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco will disseminate such information and instructions as will assist in the administration of the plan. 10. Assistance will be provided by governmental agencies, both Federal and state, in the administration of the evacuation plan, including those agencies handling other aspects of the evacuee LOVER] 11. 12. 13. 14. problem. The evacuees and their representatives including their agents should seek the help of such agencies for specific matters within their fields such as those arising out of the treatment of growing crops and other specialized problems. While emphasis is placed on the liquidation of the property holdings of the evacuee, he will be informed by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco that he may retain ownership of property left behind if appropriate arrangements can be made for its protection and preservation. The program will be administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco through its head office and through its branches in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Los Angeles, California; as well as such other offices as may be established in the Areas for the efficient furtherance of its aims. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has established its Evacuee Property Department in San Francisco, California, at 500 California Street in that city. It is intended to undertake to forestall action by unscrupulous creditors which would be detrimental to the interest of the evacuee and in all respects to minimize his losses to the greatest possible extent in connection with the disposition of his property. It is anticipated that this will be accomplished to a large extent through appeal to the creditor's sense of fair play and the obvious necessity of complete cooperation in the administration of the evacuation program. Any cases in which an equitable settlement is not agreed upon should be promptly brought to the attention of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. No compulsion will be placed upon evacuees to utilize the facilities provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, but they are invited to make use of them. The foregoing are intended to set forth certain basic principles which the Federal Reserve Bank, acting in its capacity as Fiscal Agent of the United States, feels to be important in the efficient, speedy and proper execution of its duties. In the conduct of the evacuation plan it is particularly desired that the banks throughout the Areas will extend their full cooperation in the knowledge that by widespread assistance to the evacuees the problems incident to their removal from the Areas can be most readily and expeditiously solved. In their fulfillment of their places in this program, banks are requested to give consideration to the procedure and principles enumerated above. As the program goes forward the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco proposes to communicate to the banks additional suggestions and outlines of procedure or changes in procedure calculated to improve its administration of the program and to provide public circulation of data directed toward its speedy accomplishment.
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