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

Senator Henri Bérenger, head of the French delegation, chairman of the French
Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and former member of the League of Nations
High Commission for Refugees, served as temporary chairman, and welcomed the
delegates. 23
He described France as a nation of “refuge” and thus was certain that the
Conference would achieve something “new and practical” to resolve the refugee crisis.
While “heartily welcome[ing]” the attending private organizations he described the
meeting as a simple “body” created by Roosevelt which would not serve as a “platform
for declarations.” The American President’s goal was not to create any “innovations” but
to bring together a committee composed of countries which would include non-members
of the League. 24
Myron C. Taylor, head of the American mission, next approached the podium.
He began by describing the “millions” of people who had been or were at potential risk of
being forcibly expelled from their country without consideration of the potential
consequences. The fact that the world was in the grips of an economic depression with
high unemployment, social unrest, a rising population and declining standards of living
greatly complicated the search for a solution to the refugee problem. The calamity could
no longer be considered a “purely private concern” but required international cooperation
and action. A “major forced migration” was underway, affecting all races and creeds,
professions and trades, forcing the nations of temporary and permanent refuge to rapidly
23 Henri Bérenger (April 22, 1867-May 18, 1952) served as Ambassador to the U.S. from 1926-1927 and
had held the post of Chairman of the Comité Général du Pétrol.
24 “Proceedings, First Public Meeting, July 6, 1938, 11.
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