-Caveat Lector- ---------- > From: Hilary A. Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [InTheShadows] WWII documents show UK nixed plan to save Jews > Date: Thursday, July 22, 1999 11:28 AM > > From: "Hilary A. Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Thursday, July 22, 1999 9 Av 5759 Updated Thu., Jul. 22 01:23 > > WWII documents show UK nixed plan to save Jews > By DOUGLAS DAVIS LONDON (July 22) - > > Britain stymied a secret US plan to save thousands of Jews from Nazi > concentration camps during World War II because it feared they would > emigrate to Palestine, according to British government papers that were > declassified yesterday. > > The US plan involved exchanging captive Jews who held South American > passports for expatriate German nationals in Latin America. > > But British foreign secretary Anthony Eden rejected the June 14, 1944 > proposal, because he feared the freed Jews would emigrate directly to > Palestine and stir up trouble for Britain, a Foreign Office document shows. > > > He was also worried that the return of able-bodied Germans, many with > technical skills, might enhance Germany's war effort. > > Britain's refusal to contemplate the exchange plan angered Washington, > where politicians had been shocked by the malnourished, emaciated condition > of prisoners from Bergen-Belsen who had been released in an earlier > civilian exchange. > > They were anxious to save as many Jews as possible from the Nazis, and > diplomats at the time noted that many Germans were interned or under > effective house arrest in Latin American countries, while thousands of > concentration camp inmates were Latin American citizens or dependants. > > Eden, however, was unimpressed: "Most of the holders of these documents > [Latin American passports] are of Jewish race who have been accepted as > immigrants to Palestine," he wrote to Gordon Vereker, British ambassador in > Uruguay, in November 1944. > > It seems that in 1943, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Hitler's foreign minister, > proposed exchanging some 30,000 Jews for an equivalent number of Germans in > South America, the British Empire, and Palestine. As a result of that > initiative, 550 Jews were exchanged, many of them apparently ending up in > Palestine. > > Eden argued that "the passports are good for a journey thither provided the > holders succeed in leaving enemy or enemy-occupied territory. In these > circumstances, it appears doubtful that it will ever be possible to carry > out the exchange envisaged by the United States government." > > Eden expressed the hope, however, that "the German government will abstain > from exterminating these people and will keep them in camps open to outside > inspection" if it was made aware that they might be exchanged for Germans. > > British diplomats in South America were also shown to have argued about the > lists of German citizens suitable for repatriation prepared by the US. > > "All of them are capable of rendering services to Germany if in that > country," Vereker wrote. "Many have qualities that would render them of > considerable value to Germany. > > "For instance, it seems absurd to suggest sending to Germany... highly > trained employees of the German bank who otherwise are languishing here > doing nothing but draw their pay." > > "Any such action," added Vereker, "would certainly be misunderstood and > give rise to all sorts of ideas that we have gone all soft and sentimental > over the Germans." > > In February 1945, the US State Department was so exasperated by Britain's > procrastination that an emotional memo was sent to London. > > "The department has received most distressing reports regarding physical > conditions of the unfortunate persons from Bergen-Belsen camp who were > released in the latest exchange of civilians, and it will be noted that > five of them died of malnutrition during a short period after their arrival > in Switzerland. A sixth has died this week. > > "It is therefore a matter of the greatest humanitarian urgency that cleared > lists of Germans in this hemisphere available for exchange be compiled and > that they comprise enough persons to permit the release from confinement > and otherwise certain death of the several thousand unfortunate bearers of > Latin American passports whom the Germans are holding under such > conditions." > > However, by the time Lord Halifax, the British ambassador in Washington, > sent the note to Vereker, progress in the war had made the plan "of > academic interest," according to a diplomatic document. > > Ironically, after the war, Britain's diplomats in South America found > themselves frustrated by US obstruction of plans to expatriate "obnoxious > Germans." > > George Ogilvie Forbes, the British ambassador to Venezuela, remarked on the > "indifference" of Americans to the plans, even though "the elimination of > obnoxious Germans from this territory really concerns the US much more than > Britain." > > "It is very unsatisfactory," he added, "that the British policy here should > be doomed to follow in the wake of a policy so weak and inconclusive as to > seem insincere." > > � 1995-1999, The Jerusalem Post - All rights reserved > > http://www.jpost.com/News/Article-2.html > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > ONElist: your connection to like-minds and kindred spirits. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > InTheShadows is a discussion list dedicated to keeping up-to-date with new technologies, advancements in medicine, environmental concerns, 'conspiracy theories', politics, and, of course, UFO stuff. Discussion is encouraged. Bashing and soapboxing will get you bounced off the list. > > To subscribe send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > List Moderator: Hilary Thomas > [EMAIL PROTECTED] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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