The Jewish Trail of Tears The Evian Conference of ... - Haruth.com

Minister Neville Chamberlain and Foreign Minister Lord Halifax for not attending the
meeting in France or issuing a statement condemning the “abominable persecution” of
the Jews. Steed suggested that for every Jew “robbed” and expelled from the Reich “one
Aryan German” should be sent back to Germany, “deducting from his wealth the
proportion needed to help the Jewish destitute.” How long, he asked, could Western
civilization sit back and watch the “greatest” atrocity of the century? 14
The Evian Conference was lauded as a testimonial of America’s tradition of
providing a haven to the oppressed of the world and represented history’s first endeavor
utilizing a “round-table conference of nations” to resolve a dilemma “as old as the
Caesars.” Many refugees seeking entry were seen as representing the most desirable
category of immigrants possessing intelligence and resourcefulness that would benefit the
country. Thousands of refugees could be admitted “without changing anything—except
for the better.” 15 The American Committee for the Protection of Minorities published an
appeal in the press, supported by 125 notable citizens, calling upon the world’s citizenry
to join together in a “great cooperative endeavor to ask the dictatorships to let the
oppressed people go; to welcome these exiles in so far as it is possible; to respect their
integrity and to protect their liberty.” 16 Correspondent Clarence Streit observed that the
three major powers, the United States, Britain and France controlled “so large a share of
14 “Deport Aryans, Steel Advises,” The Southern Israelite, July 8, 1938, 3.
15 The Lewiston Daily Sun, July 6, 1938, 1.
16 “Democracies Urged to Succor Refugees,” New York Times, April 11, 1938, 4.
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