Initial Responses to the Invitation

Abstract

This chapter is an examination of how the invitation to attend an international conference on refugees was received by the various nations of the world approached by the United States government. It will be shown that there was both equivocation and suspicion by many countries, though a near-universal acceptance in spite of the concerns expressed. In particular, the British government and the British Dominions were ambivalent; the former on account of an ongoing concern that the Palestine Mandate would not be compromised, the latter because they did not want to be forced into taking large numbers of Jewish refugees. The chapter shows that there was a range of interest shown globally, but that in all cases it was agreed that the meeting should go ahead provided it would not force them into acting prematurely or against their interests.

I assume that it is on general grounds desirable to encourage and support any United States proposal involving American interest in European affairs and any inclination to co-operate with foreign governments, however ‘half-baked’ a particular proposal may in its inception appear.

Roger Makins , British Foreign Office (The National Archives, Kew (hereafter TNA), FO 371, file 22321, minute on cover of file by Roger Makins (Foreign Office), March 25, 1938)