April 6, 1943 The Palestine Deception of Great Britain

“EVEN IF ONE ACCEPTS EDEN’S CONTENTION THAT TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE, CAN ANYONE DOUBT THAT JEWS WOULD HAVE WALKED, IF NECESSARY, ACROSS THE BALKANS AND OUT THROUGH TURKEY? The hard fact of the matter is that despite the excuse used constantly throughout World War II that the rescue of Jews was impossible because of the shortage of transportation, shipping and other resources were somehow found for non-military purposes when the Allied leadership so desired… LET IT BE NOTED THAT TEN DAYS AFTER EDEN’S DISCUSSION WITH ROOSEVELT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO TAKE 21,000 NON-JEWISH POLISH REFUGEES TO EAST AFRICA. THEY WERE SOME OF THE 100,000 NON-JEWISH POLISH, YUGOSLAV, AND GREEK REFUGEES WHOM THE ALLIES MOVED TO SANCTUARIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA DURING WORLD WAR II.

THE REAL PROBLEM AS FAR AS EDEN AND THE BRITISH WERE CONCERNED WAS NOT SHIPS. IT WAS THE IMMENSE PRESSURE THAT THE RELEASE OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS FROM EUROPE WOULD PLACE ON THE BRITISH POLICY OF PLACATING THE ARABS BY STRICTLY LIMITING JEWISH IMMIGRATION INTO PALESTINE. Placed in its broader context, this was part of the fundamental problem of where Jews could be put if they were rescued. No country wanted to take them in, as had been proved between 1933 and 1941 when persecuted Jews had been free to leave Nazi Europe. American Jewish groups had been correct in devising several proposals for havens of refuge for those who could get out. Unwillingness to offer refuge was a central cause for the Western world’s inadequate response to the Holocaust.

Source: Wyman, David. The Abandonment of the Jews. P 98-100; New York Times April 8, 1943; MD 88II/48-9, Cabinet Com on Refs, 5/31/44; FR 1941, v 2, 875-6, Alexander to Long, 5/7/43; R. Borden Reams to Stettinius, 10/8/43, BLP, B202 Refs.