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: 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 persons to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restriction the secretary of war or the appropriate military commander may impose in his discretion.- president franklin delano roosevelt, 1942 the purpose of this declaration by president roosevelt was to