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

Consequently, he recommended that Roosevelt appoint Secretary of State Cordell Hull,
Welles, Assistant Secretary of State George Messersmith, and Secretary of Commerce
Frances Perkins to represent the United States at the international conference.
Instead of following Welles’ counsel FDR selected 64 year old Myron C. Taylor, the
former CEO of U.S. Steel, to lead the delegation assisted by State Department Divisional
Assistant and disarmament expert Robert Pell and Foreign Service Officer, Class III
George Brandt who were familiar with immigration issues. Taylor was granted the rank
of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and was elected by the Conference’s
delegations to the chairmanship of the meeting. 67
Some representatives interpreted the appointment of Taylor, rather than a
professional diplomat, as a sign that the American Government lacked seriousness about
the Conference and its work. It was reported that the attitude of the United States was
“’one of helpfulness rather than direction.” Officials were quoted as saying America
would facilitate the formulation of planning but did “not intend to be the final judges of
whatever may be done”; an attitude that would elicit some “hesitation” in accepting the
French proposal that Taylor chair the conference. Taylor was apparently disinclined to
take the position and some American officials “hoped ‘it would not happen.’” 68
The President did accept Welles’ (and Feis’) recommendation regarding the
creation of a consultative body, the Presidential Advisory Committee on Political
67 Feingold Politics of Rescue, 28.
68 Amsterdam Evening and Daily Democrat, July 6, 1938, 1.
81