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Hamilton, Ontario
Department of the Secretary of State,
Vancouver, British Columbia
517 Cannon St. E.[East],
Hamilton, Ont.
Aug. 12, 1944.
File No. 6970
Mr. F. G. Shears,
Director,
The Office of the Custodian,
Department of the Secretary of State,
Vancouver, B. C.
Dear Sir:
I have received your letter of June 21st and after much deliberation have decided to write this letter expressing my feeling and sentiments on the receipt of the letter.
I hope you will accept these thoughts I express as those of a fellow Canadian, and not that of an enemy alien as we are so often branded.
I believe you are aware of the agreement under which we had placed the property in your custody, which was to wit: that we would place the property in your custody until such time as we were permitted to return. Your actions in disposing of the property is a violation of the agreement.
I can well realize the expenses and work incurred in the care and supervision of these properties and chattels, and though I agree that the chattels should be disposed of (except those of value as keepsakes), I see no reason why the properties could not have been retained till the termination of the war, which we all hope will be in the new future. If then the disposal of these properties was considered the best solution, I believe that it could have been accomplished in a much more satisfactory manner to all concerned. I would be in complete agreement with such action, then.
Personally, I would consider disposing of my property, but when you state the sale price as a fair one, I can only say that it is adding insult to injury. I am sure that even now, whatever condition the properties are in, I can dispose of them at a much higher price.
When I consider that my parents, both deceased, worked so hard to leave something of Canada for us, their offsprings, I must strongly protest your actions in disposing of our property at the price involved.
I often feel a nostalgic homesickness for good old B.C., as we still say fondly, but I am also realistic enough to realize that any progress would be greatly handicapped by the very adverse conditions we must face there, and so I realize that in time the properties must be disposed of.
Your actions in disposing of the properties without the consent of the owners and at a price which is far below reasonable must be termed unjust and unwarranted.
There is no mention of the chattels left on our property in your statement, could you please inform me on this matter.
Yours respectfully,
(Signed) "Toshio J. OKI"