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

this reticence to chastise the Reich including complicated business and economic
relationships (especially in Latin America) and fears of jeopardizing the sought after
policy of continental appeasement. Many Latin American Governments were “dubious
on the basic principle” that regimes engaged in forced emigration were “obliged” to
allow refugees the retention of personal assets. Such a principle represented “undue
interference” in the internal affairs of a State and might result in an undesirable precedent
that could be utilized against Latin American countries in the future. 5384
Taylor informed
Secretary of State Hull that many of the Latin American nations, especially Columbia,
Venezuela, Central American Republics, Uruguay and Chile, threatened to vote against
the final resolution of the Conference if it adopted any overt criticism of Germany.
Taylor was told with “great frankness” that threats by Germany against joint commercial
and compensation agreements precluded taking such a moral stand. Consequently, the
text of the final resolution avoided any censure of the Reich or calls upon Germany to
allow refugees to retain sufficient assets for resettlement. 85
In addition, German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop had warned that if the
Evian Conference engaged in any anti-German propaganda then the Reich would be
forced to retaliate against its German Jewish population. 86 Despite such dire threats
Chaim Weizmann recalled the “elegant parties” held by Ribbentrop in the German
84 “Reich Power Felt at Refugee Parley,” New York Times, July 14, 1938, 15.
85 840.48 Refugees/513: Telegram Taylor to Hull Evian, July 14, 1938, 840.48 Refugees/513, FRUS, vol.
1, 754-757. Von Ribbentrop was German Ambassador to Britain from 1936 to 1938. In February 1938 he
became Germany's Foreign Minister. The American Government was also concerned that overt criticism
of the Nazi regime and its anti-Jewish policies could prompt Germany to default on its financial obligations
to the Dawes and Young Plan. Spear, “The United States and the Persecution of the Jews,” 215.
86 Shepherd, Wilfrid Israel, 133-134.
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