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

action would occur at a “rate appropriate” to the “special conditions” existing within its
borders in order to avoid “undesirable results” for the State and aliens. The ongoing
reforms within Mexican society and the economy necessarily placed limits on the
numbers of immigrants that would be allowed entry or who could be successfully
assimilated. Nevertheless, the Mexican Government was offering its cooperation,
“goodwill and sympathy.” The refugees, however, would have to possess sufficient
finances to support themselves and avoid becoming public charges. It was understood
that Jews not meeting these requirements would be barred from entry. 30
The Mexican Government, following negotiations with Jewish leaders, did
agree to consider the legalization of all Jews who had entered Mexico over the previous
five years and to allow entry of refugees from Germany and Austria who had relatives or
friends already resident within the country, provided the new arrivals possessed sufficient
assets to support themselves. There were, however, a number of obstacles including anti-
Semitic diatribes in the local papers and a bill introduced into the Mexican Congress by
Senator Loayza calling for the creation Jewish ghettos. In addition, there were economic
conflicts between the Jewish owners of large textile concerns and native operators of
smaller enterprises who feared bankruptcy by their bigger competitors. 31 By November
30 “Proceedings,” July 9, 1938, 28-29.
31 “Mexico and Jews in Tentative Accord,” New York Times, July 10, 1938, 22. Primo Villa Michel
served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in the Netherlands and in the same capacity in
the U.K and Northern Ireland in 1937. The Yiddish newspaper, Der Weg, reported that the Mexican
Ministry of the Interior issued a decree on June 7 establishing criteria for the admission of Austrian Jews: 1.
Refugees could not reside in Mexico City or any provincial capital unless they demonstrated possession at
least one hundred thousand pesos for the national capital or twenty thousand pesos for the provincial
capitals; 2. Exclusion from working as hired labor; limited to establishing industrial, agricultural or
exporting enterprises; 3. Residency permits limited to one year with provision that the refugee must return
to Austria when favorable conditions return. Der Weg did, however, report that unofficial assurances had
been made that refugees would be allowed entry into the country if they possessed 2,000-3,000 pesos and
supplied an affidavit certifying that they would not seek positions in the Mexican labor force. Permanent
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