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

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PART II<br />

HOPE ASCENDING<br />

Chapter 5<br />

Day One<br />

“Actual Racial Problem”<br />

“Shall we refuse the unhappy fugitives from distress that hospitality which the savages <strong>of</strong> the<br />

wilderness extended to our forefathers arriving in this land? Shall oppressed humanity find no<br />

asylum on this globe?” Thomas Jefferson 1<br />

“A conference is a gathering <strong>of</strong> important people who singly can do nothing, but together can<br />

decide that nothing can be done.” Fred Allen 2<br />

<strong>The</strong> original planning for the Intergovernmental Committee for Political<br />

Refugees (IGCPR or more familiarly known as the <strong>Evian</strong> <strong>Conference</strong>) called for two<br />

public sessions, which were later extended to six. <strong>The</strong> expansion <strong>of</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> open<br />

sessions provided the envoys with an opportunity to indulge in l<strong>of</strong>ty oratory that<br />

highlighted their humanitarian concerns while simultaneously explaining why their<br />

respective nations could not act. Only one private meeting, <strong>com</strong>posed <strong>of</strong> all the<br />

delegations, was held. Two sub-<strong>com</strong>mittees, imbued with the spirit <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>ficial<br />

invitation, would actually carry out the work <strong>of</strong> the conference.<br />

1 Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address March 4, 1801.<br />

2 Fred Allen available from http://www.quotes.net/quotations/%22<strong>Evian</strong>%20<strong>Conference</strong>%22; Internet;<br />

accessed July 23, 2010.<br />

154

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