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

Some sources suggested that this racial doctrine was issued at that particular
time as a means of deflecting German and Austrian Jews away from seeking refuge in
Italy, increasing ties of solidarity with the Reich and minimizing the influence of
Palestinian Jews in the Mediterranean while currying favor with the Arab world. 9
The
anti-Semitic wing of the Fascist Party demanded the exclusion of Jews from the arts and
sciences, education and other occupations “influencing national thought,” the abolition of
intermarriage and discharge from the military; a policy move mimicking that of its
German ally. 10
Pope Pius XI publically contested this new racial dogma. Although he
did not mention the Jews specifically the Pontiff stated the Church did not want to
“separate anything in the human family” and asked why Italy now felt compelled to
emulate Nazi Germany. 11 Mussolini responded to the Papal criticism by asserting that on
the “question of race also we will march straight ahead. To say that Fascism has imitated
anyone or anything is simply absurd.” 12
The convening of the Evian Conference was considered a “laudable” exercise
but “informed quarters” did not have “high hopes” for any positive outcomes. Despite an
abundance of “high sounding resolutions” there were “too many concrete obstacles”
lying in the way of practical solutions. The agreement of the various democracies to
attend the meeting was viewed as a “tribute” to the prestige of the American President; a
convocation at which the “democracies could not well afford to absent themselves.”
9 Time, July 18, 1938, 22.
10 “Italian Press Campaigns for Anti-Jew Move,” Tampa Tribune, July 27, 1938, 13.
11 “Pope Attacks Italian Trend against Jews,” Tampa Tribune, July 30, 1938, 18.
12 “Pope Scorned by Mussolini on Race,” Tampa Tribune, July 31, 1938, 1.
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