WHEREAS it is provided by Section 21 of Title 50 of the United States Code [11 F. C. A., tit.
50, § 21] as follows: “Whenever there is a declared war between the United States and any
foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated,
attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or
government, and the President makes public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens,
denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being of the age of fourteen years
and upward, who shall be within the United States and not actually naturalized, shall be
liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies. The President
is authorized in any such event, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the
conduct to be observed, on the part of the United States, toward the aliens who become so
liable; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject and in what
cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the
removal of those who, not being permitted to reside within the United States, refuse or
neglect to depart therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which are found necessary
in the premises and for the public safety.”
AND WHEREAS by sections 22, 23, and 24 of title 50 of the United States Code [11 F. C. A.,
tit. 50, §§ 22 to 24] further provision is made relative to alien enemies:
PROCLAMATION
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, as PRESIDENT of the United States and as
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, do hereby make public
proclamation to all whom it may concern that an invasion of predatory incursion is threatened
upon the territory of the United States by Germany.
CONDUCT TO BE OBSERVED BY ALIEN ENEMIES
And, acting under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the
United States and the said sections of the United States Code, I do hereby further proclaim
and direct that the conduct to be observed on the part of the United States toward all
natives, citizens, denizens or subjects of Germany being of the age of fourteen years and
upwards who shall be within the United States or within any territories in any way subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States and not actually naturalized, who for the purpose of this
Proclamation and under such sections of the United States Code are termed alien enemies,
shall be as follows:
All alien enemies are enjoined to preserve the peace toward the United States and to refrain
from crime against public safety, and from violating the laws of the United States and of the
States and Territories thereof; and to refrain from actual hostility or giving information, aid
or comfort to the enemies of the United States or interfering by word or deed with the
defense of the United States or political processes and public opinions thereof; and to comply
strictly with the regulations which are hereby or which may be from time to time
promulgated by the President.
All alien enemies shall be liable to restraint, or to give security, or to remove and depart
from the United States in the manner prescribed by sections 23 and 24 of title 50 of the
United States Code, and as prescribed in the regulations duly promulgated by the President.
DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE SECRETARY OF WAR
And, pursuant to the authority vested in me, I hereby charge the Attorney General with the
duty of executing all the regulations hereinafter prescribed regarding the conduct of alien
enemies within the continental limits of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and
Alaska, and the Secretary of War with the duty of executing the regulations which are
hereinafter prescribed and which may be hereafter adopted regarding the conduct of alien
enemies in the Canal Zone, the Hawaiian Islands and the Philippine Islands. Each of them is
specifically directed to cause the apprehension of such alien enemies as in the judgment of
each are subject to apprehension or deportation under such regulations. In carrying out such
regulations within the continental United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Alaska,
the Attorney General is authorized to utilize such agents, agencies, officers and departments
of the United States and of the several states, territories, dependencies, municipalities
thereof and of the District of Columbia as he may select for the purpose. Similarly the
Secretary of War in carrying out such regulations in the Canal Zone, the Hawaiian Islands and
the Philippine Islands is authorized to use such agents, agencies, officers and departments of
the United States and of the territories, dependencies and municipalities thereof as he may
select for the purpose. All such agents, agencies, officers and departments are hereby
granted full authority for all acts done by the them in the execution of such regulations when
acting by direction of the Attorney General or the Secretary of War, as the case may be.
REGULATIONS
The regulations contained in Proclamation No. 2525 of December 7, 1941, relative to natives,
citizens, denizens or subject of Japan are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this
proclamation, and shall be applicable to alien enemies defined in this proclamation.
This proclamation and the regulations herein prescribed shall extend and apply to all land and
water, continental or insular, in any way within the jurisdiction of the United States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States
of America to be affixed.
DONE at the City of Washington this 8th day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and forty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America one hundred
and sixty-sixth.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT