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

preparations. I think the meeting should be as short as possible.” 94 He later advised King
that there was “little chance” that “any clear conclusions” would result from the
Conference. 95
Following the conclusion of the conference King remarked that the admission of
Jews posed a greater national threat to the internal harmony of Canada than did the Nazi
or Fascist regimes. The Fuehrer and Il Duce, the Prime Minister believed, sought to
provide “the masses of the people some opportunity for enjoyment, taste of art and the
like.” “Dictatorial methods” were necessary to suppress those “privileged interests
(presumably Jewish) that have previously monopolized it.” 96 Such a world view of Jewry
was of course, in keeping with the widely held anti-Semitic belief in Jewish domination
of society.
Following Kristallnacht King expressed the opinion in his diary that the nation
“must do her part” in offering refuge to “some” of the Jewish émigrés; an act that would
be “difficult politically.” King pledged to “fight for it as right and just, and Christian.” 97
In reality, however, Canada accepted only five thousand refugees, during 1933-1939, of
which 3,500 were Jews. Most of these Jewish refugees were relocated from British
internment camps as part of Canada's war effort to help house Austrian and German
94 Public Archives of Canada RG 76, vol. 432, file 644452, part 1, Hume Wrong to W.L. Mackenzie
King, July 9, 1938 and June 29, 1938 cited in Bartrop, “Drawing the Line,” 6.
95 Public Archives of Canada RG 76, vol. 432, file 644452, part 1, Wrong to King, July 9, 1938. Ibid., 8.
96 Mackenzie King Diary, May 10, 1938.
96 Ibid., November 13, 1938.
188