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

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Chapter 12<br />

Intergovernmental Committee for Political Refugees<br />

“Face Saving Organization”<br />

<strong>The</strong> sole ac<strong>com</strong>plishment <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Evian</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> was the creation <strong>of</strong> the<br />

London-based Intergovernmental Committee for Political Refugees Coming from<br />

Germany. <strong>The</strong> IGCR differed from earlier refugee organizations in that it enjoyed greater<br />

support from the United States Government and it represented the “first all-democracy<br />

world body ever established.” Its full time director was to be an “eminent American”<br />

endowed with a greater range <strong>of</strong> authority and a “freer hand” than had been granted the<br />

League’s High Commissioner for Refugees. Countries that created refugees were<br />

excluded from membership. Additionally, at least in the American view, it would <strong>of</strong>fer<br />

the opportunity to deal with other groups <strong>of</strong> refugees. It would consist <strong>of</strong> a chairman,<br />

four vice-chairmen and a director (Winterton as chairman; Taylor as vice-chair). <strong>The</strong><br />

IGCR, like its League predecessor, pursued a limited mission: to persuade nations to<br />

<strong>of</strong>fer realistic opportunities for permanent resettlement and to negotiate with and<br />

convince the German Government involuntary refugees should be allowed to retain<br />

sufficient financial assets to reestablish themselves in a new life. 1<br />

Committee members<br />

would be drawn from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Argentina and Brazil<br />

1 Marrus. <strong>The</strong> Unwanted, 171, 182. <strong>The</strong> League never engaged in negotiations with the Reich<br />

leadership.<br />

301

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