February 19th, 1942
WHEREAS, the successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against
espionage and against sabotage to national defense material, national defense premises and
national defense utilities as defined in Section 4, Act of April 20, 1918, 40 Stat. 533, as
amended by the Act of November 30, 1940, 54 Stat. 1220, and the Act of August 21, 1941, 55
Stat. 655 (U.S.C. Title 50, Sec. 104):
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States,
and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of
War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate, whenever he
or any designated Commander deems such action necessary or desirable, to prescribe military
areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may
determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the
right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the
Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion. The
Secretary of War is hereby authorized to provide for residents of any such area who are
excluded therefrom, such transportation, food, shelter, and other accommodations as may be
necessary, in the judgment of the Secretary of War or the said Military Commander, and until
other arrangements are made, to accomplish the purpose of this order. The designation of
military areas in any region or locality shall supersede designations of prohibited and
restricted areas by the Attorney General under the Proclamation of December 7 and 8, 1941,
and shall supersede the responsibility and authority of the Attorney General under the said
Proclamations in respect of such prohibited and restricted areas.
I hereby further authorize and direct the Secretary of War and the said Military Commanders
to take such other steps as he or the appropriate Military Commander may deem advisable to
enforce compliance with the restrictions applicable to each military area hereinabove
authorized to be designated, including the use of Federal troops and other Federal Agencies,
with authority to accept assistance of state and local agencies.
I hereby further authorize and direct all Executive Departments, independent
establishments and other Federal Agencies, to assist the Secretary of War or the said Military
Commanders in carrying out this Executive Order, including the furnishing of medical aid,
hospitalization, food, clothing, transportation, use of land, shelter, and other supplies,
equipment, utilities, facilities, and services.
This order shall not be construed as modifying or limiting in any way the authority
heretofore granted under Executive Order No. 8972, dated December 12, 1941, nor shall it be
construed as limiting or modifying the duty and responsibility of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, with respect to the investigations of alleged acts of sabotage or the duty and
responsibility of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice under the Proclamations
of December 7 and 8, 1941, prescribing regulations for the conduct and control of alien
enemies, except as such duty and responsibility is superseded by the designation of military
areas hereunder.
THE WHITE HOUSE