The ‘Evian Conference

Mr. Taylor:		“Good afternoon and welcome to ‘Evian. My name is Myron C. Taylor. I represent the United States of America. I am empowered by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose idea it was to convene this conference, to call this meeting to order. We represent, in total, 32 countries of the world. We know what our purpose is in being here today. The Jews of Germany and Austria must flee Hitler and the Nazis who are making it impossible for them to live in peace and freedom. They must find a place of refuge. We can be the Nations of Asylum. We can offer the Jews security. Let us begin to hear the witnesses .. Jewish men and women will report on the conditions they are being forced to endure in their own countries during this difficult time.”
First man:		“Thank you for letting us tell our stories. Thank you for convening such a conference. Let us hope that this is the last time such a conference is necessary.”
Second man:		“Half of us have been fired from our jobs .. and unable to find other work. We were fired for one reason, and for one reason only: We are Jews!”
Third man:		“We Jews are doctors, lawyers, teachers and business people. German law does not allow us to be farmers, so we cannot work for ourselves. Without work, we cannot live.”
First woman:		“We are ready and willing to leave our homes in Germany and start anew in any country that will open its doors to us. We will learn your language; we will work hard and become good citizens of your countries. But you must help us get started. The German government has said that if we leave, we must abandon all of our possessions and leave behind all of our money. They will allow us to take with us no more than ten Reichmarks. In U.S. currency that is less than $5.00.”
Fourth man:		“The Germans have made their feelings about us very plain. Throughout Germany signs are hanging above hotel entrances, in shop windows, in public parks, on park benches, in theaters and near swimming pools. The signs say; “No Jews allowed.”
Second woman:		“I took my little girl to school last week. She is in kindergarten. She asked me what the signs hanging above the kindergarten entrance said. I didn't tell her. I couldn't tell my little girl that those signs said “Jewish scum.”
Fifth man:		“In my town, we cant buy milk for our children or groceries; signs with 'No Jews and dogs allowed' hang at entrances to the shops, forbidding us to enter. We are not allowed to farm the land, so we cannot grow our own food. When our children are ill, which they are often these days, stores that sell medicine are “verboten” .. forbidden to us because we are Jews. We are desperate to leave Germany!”
Third woman:		“A few weeks after German troops took over Austria, tens of thousands of Austrian Jews were locked up in concentration camps. My friends, my uncles ... all were taken.”
Fourth woman:		“The German soldiers ruling over us look so well-fed, so handsome and comfortable. They wear clean uniforms and shiny black boots. When they first entered Austria, I almost admired them! But those same soldiers beat up Jews on the street for no reason at all - except that they are Jews. They beat men, women, and even children. I've seen it with my own eyes. And the Austrian people just stand there and watch. They don't utter a word of complaint.
Fifth woman:		“I was on my way to the store when soldiers stopped me. They forced me down on my hands and knees and pushed a bucket of water in front of me. “Here!” they ordered. They always order ... they never talk ... they order. “Scrub the gutter!” I was humiliated, but I was frightened, so I did what they ordered. People in the street just stood by watching ... Some even laughed; even as I began to cry. Look at my hands. They are burned raw ... not from the work, but because the Nazis had poured acid into the scrub water.”
Sixth man:		“We Jews are only one percent of the whole German population, only three percent the Austrian. And yet Hitler blames us for everything. Listen to his words: “If the Jews of Europe again make a World War.. the result will be the wiping out of the Jews in Europe!” We are frightened. We are afraid for our future and for our children's future. You must help us!”
Myron Taylor:		“This has been an exhausting week. We have all listened very carefully to the witnesses testimony. We understand their concern. Now we must be prepared to explain what we can do to help them. First I want to say that the American government is proud of its fair and liberal immigration laws. We allow many people from all over the world to enter, and we treat them well. In order to continue this policy, the United States must maintain a quota system. In other words, we can only allow a certain number of people into the U.S. from each European country. This system is for the benefit of United States residents as well as for new immigrants. I'm sure you can all understand that.” "I personally am deeply sorry about what I have heard this week. But we have limits. We will do what we can to help, but only within our existing quota system. We can take a total of 27,370 German and Austrian Jews this year. That is all. I am sorry. There are 31 other nations represented here who can help the one half million Jews who want to leave Germany and Austria. Let us now hear from the honorable delegates from these countries.”
Delegate from England:		“As England's delegate I wish to explain my government's position: We currently administer the affairs of the country called Palestine. We have done this since 1917. Some people feel that the problem would be solved if we would only open the gates of Palestine to all Jewish immigrants, without restrictions. But I would like to state clearly and strongly that this will not work. First, Palestine is a very small country. It could not possibly absorb so many people. Second, there are special problems with the local population there. We cannot ignore their feelings in this matter. We cannot open Palestine to unlimited Jewish immigration.”
Delegate from France:		“Bonjour. My country, France, continues to be true to our long-standing tradition of welcoming all people who wish to come and live in our beautiful country. We understand President Roosevelt's effort to help the Jews, and we applaud this effort. Unfortunately, France has reached the point of saturation regarding new immigrants. We simply have no more room.”
Delegate from Canada:		“I am the delegate from Canada. As you may know, we are the second largest country in the entire world. We have a great deal of land, and we would be happy to help. But we must take only the kinds of people who will make our country grow and prosper. Right now we need farmers and are prepared to take all Jews who are farmers.”
Delegate from Brazil:		“I represent Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world. We could take half a million people, as every country here could, but our country is Christian and we have a brand new law in Brazil. That law states that we can only take in Christians. Any Jew who has a certificate of baptism may enter our country.”
Delegate from Australia:		“I am happy to be representing Australia. We are the sixth largest country in the world, and we have great tracts of empty land and very few people. But you see, our small population is very homogeneous. Our people all have the same values and the same customs. We have no racial problems in Australia and we don't want to import one from Europe. We think it would be best for us not to allow any Jews into our country at this time. I'm sure you understand.”
Delegate from South America:		“I represent South America. Our four countries, would like very much to help, but we have rules that do not admit people whom we call 'undesirables'. We have to protect our own people. We consider doctors, lawyers, writers, teachers and business people undesirables.”
Delegate from Holland:		“I am the delegate from Holland, one of the smallest nations represented here. Since we do not like what the Germans are doing to their Jewish citizens, we will allow Jews to enter Holland, provided that they look for a home elsewhere as soon as possible.”
Delegate from Denmark:		“I represent the country of Denmark. We too are a tiny country. But we have always lived in peace with our Jewish citizens. We will welcome 1,500 Jews who want to immigrate to our country.”
Delegate from Dominian Republic:		“I am the delegate from the Dominican Republic, which is also one of the smallest nations at this conference. We need people, and we will take even more than 1,500 Jews. But there is one condition. To enter, they must agree not to be Jews any longer.
Myron Taylor:		“Thank you all very much. I know you have all done what you could. But now it is time to consider one more solution. The Jewish refugees will cause a severe economic and social strain on countries with limited capabilities to absorb them and care for them properly. We do not want this strain to interfere with international relations, which could have serious world-wide implications. It seems clear that we should pass the following resolution: No Jews will be taken in anywhere unless they bring all their assets with them. No Jews will be taken in anywhere unless they are able to support themselves. Let us now vote. All in favor of this resolution?”
All delegates together:		“Aye!”
Myron Taylor:		“Opposed? None? Then the resolution is passed. I am sorry. We did what we could. This conference stands adjourned.”