Bermuda Conference

Bermuda conference

The Bermuda Conference was an international conference between the United Kingdom and the United States held from April 19, 1943 through April 30, 1943 at Hamilton, Bermuda. The topic of discussion was the question of Jewish refugees who had been liberated by Allied forces and those who still remained Nazi-occupied Europe. The only agreement made was that the war must be won against the Nazis. US immigration quotas were not raised nor was the British prohibition on Jewish refugees seeking refuge in the British Mandate of Palestine lifted.

The United States delegation was led by Dr. Harold W. Dodds. The British delegation was led by Richard Law, a junior minister at the Foreign Office.[1]


Reaction

An article in the New York Times dated April 30, 1943, "Hopeful Hint Ends Bermuda Sessions,"[2] stated that the delegates had rejected recommendations that were not capable of being accomplished under war conditions and that would most likely delay the war effort of the United Nations.

A week later, the American Zionist Committee for a Jewish Army ran an advertisement in the New York Times condemning the efforts at Bermuda as a mockery of past promises to the Jewish people and of Jewish suffering under German Nazi occupation.[3]

Senator Harry S Truman withdrew his membership from the committee over what was perceived as an insult to members of the United States Senate who had been involved in the conference. As President, however, Truman went on to give the support Israel needed to be recognized as a state.

Szmul Zygielbojm, a member of the Jewish advisory body to the Polish government-in-exile, committed suicide in protest at the outcome of the conference.

See also

References

  1. ↑ David Blair, "The Bermuda Conference that Failed to Save the Jews," The Daily Telegraph (London), Saturday 31 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Hopeful Hint Ends Bermuda Sessions," New York Times, 30 April 1943, p. 9.
  3. ↑ “To 5,000,000 Jews in the Nazi Death-Trap Bermuda was a Cruel Mockery,” New York Times, 4 May 1943, p. 17.

External links