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

Jewish groups themselves could not agree on a cohesive policy towards
immigration and instead offered a variety of proposals calling for increased or decreased
admissions into Palestine, vocational and retraining programs to facilitate assimilation
into the population of a new country and establishment of Jewish settlements in out of the
way and undeveloped regions. Those opposed to forced immigration sought the
preservation of their minority rights in the country of origin. 38
In addition the Zionist and
non-Zionist leadership failed to send a unified high-level representation to the
conference. Such discord, in the opinion of Nahum Goldman, would ultimately harm the
Jewish cause and represented a source of disgrace and derision. 39 Goldmann wanted
Rabbi Stephen Wise to attend in his capacity as president of the World Jewish Congress,
along with Chaim Weizmann, arguing that they could “authoritatively command the best
hearing for the general Jewish case.” 40
There were some within the American Jewish community who decried the lack
of a strong Jewish leadership. Acknowledging the past efforts of Louis D. Brandeis and
38 Such disharmony among the various Jewish factions was not lost on the German National Socialists.
“It was proven also that the Jewish organizations represented at Evian were not of one opinion regarding
the goals. For example, the so-called World Jewish Congress is mostly interested in protesting against the
German racial laws that have stimulated interest all over the world. In contrast, the Zionists wish to exploit
the departure of the Jewish masses from European countries as an argument to have more enter Palestine.
The development of the Evian Conference so far is very embarrassing for the Marxists, because according
to them, it leads to an international legalization of German anti-Semitic policy.” “No One Wants to Have
Them,” Voelkischer Beobachter, July 13, 1938.
39 Meyer W. Weisgal, ed., Chaim Weizmann: Statesman, Scientist, Builder of the Jewish Commonwealth
(NY, Dial Press, 1944), 304-328; Vital. A People Apart, 886; Breitman, American Refugee Policy, 103.The
Jewish Agency Executive (JAE) had proposed a delegation consisting of Menahem M. Ussishkin and
Arthur Ruppin representing the JAE; Nahum Goldmann representing the London Executive and American
Zionist interests and Georg Landauer or Henrietta Szold representing Youth Aliya. Goldmann became a
member of the London JAE in 1935 although based in Geneva and his work with the World Jewish
Congress led to his involvement with American Zionist leaders and organizations.
40 Cable from Nahum Goldmann to Sumner Welles, May 27, 1938 and from Welles to James G.
McDonald, May 29, 1938; in Urofsky, A Voice that Spoke, 305.
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