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

“British through and through.” The admission of “hordes” of European Jews would
endanger the “freedom and civilization we are all privileged to enjoy…” 73 The Society
sought to influence the Government to decrease the visa allotment by one-third. Superior
airs and fears of inciting domestic anti-Semitism led the local Jewish community to
caution new arrivals on their public behavior:
Above all, do not speak German in the streets and in the trams.
Modulate your voices. Do not make yourself conspicuous anywhere by
walking with a group of persons, all of whom are loudly speaking a
foreign language. Remember that the welfare of the old-established
Jewish communities in Australia, as well as of every migrant, depends
upon your personal behavior. Jews collectively are judged as
individuals. You, personally, have a very grave responsibility. 74
The strategy of the Canadian Government was to prevent the entrance of foreign
Jews. Immigration laws and guidelines would need to be suspended or revised to make
special allowance for stateless refugees. Farmers and other agricultural workers could be
73 Truth (Sydney), August 7, 1938 cited in B. Hooper, “Australian Reaction to German Persecution of the
Jews and Refugee Assimilation” (M.A. thesis, Department of History, Australian National University,
1972), 78.
74 “Jews’ Advice to Refugee: “Go to Country,’” The Sydney Morning Herald, May 13, 1938, 17. During
1930 the Australian Government would allow the entry of immigrants who possessed £500 or were
dependents of aliens currently residing in the country. Following the enactment of the 1935 Nuremberg
Laws prominent Australian Jews petitioned the Government under Prime Minister Lyons to decrease the
requiring landing fee to £50 if guaranteed by family or friends. The Australian Jewish Welfare Service
(AJWS) was also created to facilitate and coordinate the immigration process. The London based Australia
House received 120 applications per day for immigration visas during March 1938 and the AJWS received
1,200 applications in the first week following the Anschluss. An opinion poll taken at the time of the Evian
Conference demonstrated that only seventeen percent of the population favored mass immigration of Jews.
Those resisting or opposed to enhanced entry were concerned about the limited assimilability of Jews into
Australian society or the threat of Jewish control of certain aspects of the economy or professions. Strict
limitations were placed on the number of Jewish refugee physicians allowed to practice in the country.
Although the Lyons Government announced a policy of accepting 15,000 refugees over three years the
nation was already accepting 5,100 per year (prior to December 1938); consequently, such a policy actually
decreased the absolute number of refugees accepted. During the period of 1933-1939 only 7,000 Jews
were resettled in Australia of which only 100 were Jewish children and adolescents. 570 British children,
on the other hand, gained entry during 1940. Paul Bartrop, “Safe Haven: 2. Immigration and Settlement—
Government Policy” available from
http://www.naa.gov.au/naaresources/publications/research_guides/guides/haven/pages/chapter2.htm ;
Internet; accessed June 27, 2010.
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