The following statement of loyalty to this country on the part of Pajaro valley Japanese residents was made Sunday by I. Motoki, secretary of the Japanese association.

"As far as the Japanese community here is concerned, we pledge our whole-hearted loyalties to this country which we love.

Most of the Japanese here, say 95 per cent, are residents of more than 25 years standing in Watsonville and the Pajaro valley and are in a true sense Americans.

The only thing is they did not become American citizens because the law does not provide privileges of naturalization to them. There have been many petitions in the past from different organizations seeking this goal of becoming American citizens.

"By the deeds and actions of local Japanese during this emergency, we believe they will prove so worthwhile that the law can be amended and more local Japanese can become American citizens.

Be assured that the local Japanese will give 100 per cent support to any measure which calls for loyalty and duty on the part of Americans.

We have our families, our homes and our investments in the Pajaro valley and we want to stay here in the country we love and consider home. This is shown by the fact that only one of the hundreds of Japanese families here had planned to return to Japan Dec. 14 and that family was going solely because of illness in the other portion of the family in Japan."