Go to the following coordinates: 33.9N, 116.25W. What do you see? Describe location–consider the terms human geographers use to describe locations. Climate of the area? Where are you?

Go to 33.75N, 116.35 W. What do you see? Describe the location. Climate? Where are you AND how far away are you from the first location?

If you have time, go to www.zillow.com and check out this website. How could it be helpful to everyday people and human geographers?

Collapse–make sure you all bring this book with you on Monday with notes and create 2-3 discussion questions to ask your table group on Monday–spread the word!

9th World History Students:
Your summer reading assignment was to purchase/borrow Collapse by Jared Diamond and read part 1. You obviously may take notes over any material. We will be discussing this starting the first day of school. You will need a 1 inch, 3 ring binder with tab dividers in addition to the basics: blue or black ink pens, pencils, loose leaf paper, and a highlighter. Your textbooks are on order and should be available the first week of school.

Thanks and I can’t wait to meet you all! Mrs. Snyder

Your summer reading assignment is to read the prologue, and chapters 1 and 2 of your text. You will need to take notes-preferably in outline format-over the chapters. You will turn in outlines for every chapter next year so feel free to read ahead!

On the first day of school, you will take a TEST over the chapters so it is VERY worthwhile to complete this assignment. Due to the new block scheduling we won’t spend much time in class discussing these 2 chapters so you are responsible for the information on your own.

You will also need to purchase/borrow the book Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis. We will be reading this the first month of school–it is better to purchase this as you might need to write in the book and make notes. If you have financial difficulties purchasing this book, I have 12 available–contact me via email.

I will post updates, comments and information throughout the summer so make sure you check back here periodically.

If you know of someone signed up for this course, but does not have his book yet, they can pick one up at the Central Academy Building in the office between 8-3.

Your focus will be music in history. There are a variety of ways you could accomplish this.

1. Finish the decades (1960s-2010s) from my powerpoint. Include general information about music in each decade with song examples. Make sure you can play clips of songs to illustrate each decade.
2. Present the history of music in ONE particular decade~~Anywhere from 1670 to 2010. Provide much information about the decade and history of music and how it impacted American lives. Have clips if possible.
3. Pick a singer/songwriter in US history. Provide background information on them and examples of their music. Make sure you emphasize their impact on US music.
4. Select 5-7 songs that deal with historical issues. Play the songs and include lyrics. Explain each song’s significance and what historical event or time period they represent.
5. Research a particular TYPE of music (i.e. blues, acid rock, ballroom). Present information on the type of music and how/why it typifies America. Include clips.
6. Create a timeline of American music including themes, types of music, favorite or popular musicians.
7. Create a music video that incorporates pictures corresponding to your music.
8. Create a documentary about music or musician(s).
9. Create your own—but discuss it with me first! (feel free to email me)

These presentations may be completed in a variety of ways from powerpoint to handouts. The key is to TEACH your classmates something about American music and provide listening examples and/or visual aides.

You may work with a partner from your class.

Presentations will begin Tuesday for extra credit or Wednesday for regular credit.

Feel free to email information to me or if you’d like copies of something beforehand.

June 26, 1940.
A-B – Mr. Berle
PA/D Mr. Dunn

Attached is a memorandum from Mr. Warren. I discussed the matter with him on the basis of this memorandum. There are two possibilities and I will discuss each category briefly.

Non-immigrants

Their entry into the United States can be made to depend upon prior authorization by the Department. This would mean that the consuls would be divested of discretion and that all requests for nonimmigrant visas (temporary visitor and transit visas) be passed upon here. It is quite feasible and can be done instantly. It will permit the Department to effectively control the immigration of persons in this category and private instructions can be given the Visa Division as to nationalities which should not be admitted as well as to individuals who are to be excluded.

This must be done for universal application and could not be done as regards Germany, for instance, or Russia, for instance, or any other one government because it would first, invite retaliation and second, would probably be a violation of some of our treaty arrangements. The retaliation clause is in connection with Germany because it could mean the closing of our offices in almost all of Europe.

Immigrants

We can delay and effectively stop for a temporary period of indefinite length the number of immigrants into the United States. We could do this by simply advising our consuls, to put every obstacle in the way and to require additional evidence and to resort to various administrative devices which would postpone and postpone and postpone the granting of the visas. However, this could only be temporary. In order to make it more definite It would have to be done by suspension of the rules under the law by the issuance of a proclamation of emergency–which I take it we are not yet ready to proclaim.

Summing Up

We can effectively control non-immigrants by prohibiting the issuance of visas
unless the consent of the Department to obtained in advance for universal application.

We can temporarily prevent the number of immigrants from certain localities such as Cuba, Mexico and other places of origin of German intending immigrants by simply raising administrative obstacles.

The Department will be prepared to take these two steps immediately upon the decision but emphasis must be placed on the fact that discrimination must not be
practiced and with the additional thought that in case a suspension of the regulations should be proclaimed under the need of an emergency, it would be
universally applicable and would affect refugees from England.

The Canadian situation and travel across that border we can handle through
an exception to the general rule and so advise our consuls In Canada.

Document 2
U.S. State Department receives information from Switzerland regarding the Nazi plan to murder the Jews of Europe.

FROM
Bern
Dated August 11, 1942
Rec’d 2:35 p.m.

Secretary of State,
Washington
3697, August 11, 3 p.m.

Gerhardt M. Riegner Secretary World Jewish Congress Geneva called on Vice Consul Elting Geneva Saturday eighth greatly agitated and requested following quoted message be transmitted for information American and other Allied Governments and be notified in Department’s discretion to Dr Stephen Wise New York City:

“Informer reported to have close connections with highest German authorities who has previously generally reliable reports says that in Fuehrer’s [sic] headquarters plan under consideration to exterminate at one blow this fall three and half to four millions Jews following deportation from countries occupied, controlled by Germany and concentration in east. Method execution undecided but prussic acid has been considered. Information transmitted with reservation as exactitude cannot be ascertained.”

Confidential Legation

CONFIDENTIAL Legation note: Legation has no information which would tend to confirm this report which is however forwarded in accordance with Riegner’s wishes. In conversation with Elting Riegner drew attention to recently reported Jewish deportations eastward from occupied France, protectorate and probably elsewhere. The report has earmarks of war rumor inspired by fear and what is commonly understood to be the actually miserable condition of these refugees who face decimation as result physical maltreatment persecution and scarcely endurable privations malnutrition and disease.

HARRISON

-AMERICAN CONSULATE
Geneva, Switzerland, August 10, 1942

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Subject: Transmitting Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of Jewish Congress, Geneva, concerning Report that Germans are Considering Wholesale Extermination of Jews.

THE HONORABLE SECRETARY OF STATE, WASHINGTON.

Sir:

At the suggestion of the Legation at Bern, I have the honor to enclose a copy of a memorandum in the above entitled matter.

I desire to reiterate my belief in the utter seriousness of my informant.

Respectfully yours,

Howard Elting, Jr.
American Vice Consul

Enclosure:
Copy of memorandum, as stated.

MEMORANDUM

Subject: Conversation with Mr. Gerhart M. RIEGNER, Secretary of World Jewish Congress

This morning Mr. Gerhart M. RIEGNER, Secretary of the World Jewish Congress in Geneva, called in great agitation. He stated that he had just received a report from a German business man of considerable prominence, who is said to have excellent political and military connections in Germany and from whom reliable and important political information has been obtained on two previous occasions, to the effect that there has been and is being considered in Hitler’s headquarters a plan to exterminate all Jews from Germany and German controlled areas in Europe after they have been concentrated in the east (presumably Poland). The number involved is said to be between three-and-a-half and four millions and the object is to permanently settle the Jewish question in Europe. The mass execution if decided upon would allegedly take place this fall.

Riegner stated that according to his informant the use of prussic acid was mentioned as a means of accomplishing the executions. When I mentioned that this report seemed fantastic to me, Riegner said that it struck him in the same way but that from the fact that mass deportation had been taking place since July 16 as confirmed by reports received by him from Paris, Holland, Berlin, Vienna, and Prague it was always conceivable that such a diabolical plan was actually being considered by Hitler as a corollary.

According to Riegner, 14,000 Jews have already been deported from occupied France and 10,000 more are to be handed over from occupied France in the course of the next few days. Similarly from German sources 56,000 Jews have already been deported from the Protectorate together with
unspecified numbers from Germany and other occupied countries.

Riegner said this report was so serious and alarming that he felt it his duty to make the following requests: (1) that the American and other Allied Governments be informed with regard thereto at once; (2) that they be asked to try by every means to obtain confirmation or denial; (3) that Dr. Stephen Wise, the president of his organization, be informed of the report.

I told Riegner that the information would be passed on to the Legation at once but that I was not in a position to inform him as to what action, if any, the Legation might take. He hoped that he might be informed in due course that the information had been transmitted to Washington.

For what it is worth, my personal opinion is that Riegner is a serious and balanced individual and that he would never have come to the Consulate with the above report if he had not had confidence in his informant’s reliability and if he did not seriously consider that the report might well contain an element of truth. Again it is my opinion that the report should be passed on to the Department for what it is worth.

There is attached a draft of a telegram prepared by Riegner giving in his own words a telegraphic summary of his statements to me.

Howard Elting, Jr.
American Vice Consul

American Consulate
Geneva, Switzerland

Document 3
A report written by Adoph Held, the president of the American Jewish Labor Committee recounting President Roosevelt’s 29-minute meeting on December 8, 1942 with a small delegation of American Jewish Leaders.

REPORT ON THE VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT

The committee consisted of Rabbi Stephen B. Wise, of the Jewish Congress; Mr. Monsky, of Bnai Brith; Rabbi Rosenberg, of the Agudath, and Adolph Held, of the Jewish Labor Committee.

The meeting with the President was arranged for Tuesday, December 8, 1942, at 12 o’clock. We were originally notified that the President would give us 15 minutes, but the conference lasted 29 minutes. The purpose of the conference was to present a prepared memorandum on the German atrocities in Poland consisting of an appeal to the President for immediate action against the German extermination of Jews, and also a 12 page memorandum citing the facts that have been gathered on this subject.

We were taken into the President’s office in the White House by General Watson, the President’s personal military aide, exactly at 12 o’clock. The President was seated at his desk; in front of the desk were lined up five chairs for the delegation.

The President sat behind the desk smoking a cigarette in a long cigarette-holder. The desk was full of all sorts of trinkets–ash trays, brass and porcelain figures, etc. There was not an empty spot on his desk. The figures were of all shapes and sizes.

As we filed in, the President greeted Rabbi Wise: “How have you been, Stephen? You are looking well. Glad to see you looking well.” Rabbi Wise then introduced each of us separately. The President shook hands with each of us, repeated the name, and then asked: “How do you do, Mr. Monsky?,” etc., following which he asked us to sit down.

When we were seated, the President opened the conversation by saying: “I am a sadist, a man of extreme sadistic tendencies. When I appointed Governor Lehman as head of the new Office of Relief and Rehabilitation, I had some very sadistic thoughts in my head. I know that Governor Lehman is a great administrator, and I wanted a great administrator for this post. I had another thought in my mind, however. I had hopes that, when God spares my life and the war is over, to be able to go to Germany, stand behind a curtain and have the sadistic satisfaction of seeing some “Junkers” on their knees, asking Lehman for bread. And, by God, I’ll urge him to give it to them.”

Rabbi Wise then said: “Mr. President, we have an orthodox Rabbi in our midst. It is customary for an orthodox rabbi to deliver a benediction upon the head of his country, when he comes in his presence. Will you, therefore, permit rabbi Rosenberg to say the prayer of benediction?”

“Certainly” the President answered.

Rabbi Rosenberg rose and put on his scull-cap. We all rose. The President remained seated, and, as Rabbi Rosenberg commenced to recite the prayer in Hebrew, the President bowed his head.

“O, God Lord of Kings, blessed be Thy name that Thou bestowest a share of Thy glory upon the son of men.”

“Thank you very much”– the President said.

The President seemed to be moved, and so were we all.

Rabbi Wise then read the declaration by the committee.

Rabbi Wise did not read the details but simply said: “Mr. President, we also beg to submit details and proofs of the horrible facts. We appeal to you, as head of our government, to do all in your power to bring this to the attention of the world and to do all in your power to make an effort to stop it.”

The President replied: “The government of the United States is very well acquainted with most of the facts you are now bringing to our attention. Unfortunately we have received confirmation from many sources. Representatives of the United States government in Switzerland and other neutral countries have given up proof that confirm the horrors discussed by you. We cannot treat these matters in normal ways. We are dealing with an insane man– Hitler, and the group that surrounds him represent an example of a national psychopathic case. We cannot act toward them by normal means. That is why the problem is very difficult. At the same time it is not in the best interest of the Allied cause to make it appear that the entire German people are murderers or are in agreement with what Hitler is doing. There must be in Germany elements, now thoroughly subdued, but who at the proper time will, I am sure, rise, and protest against the atrocities, against the whole Hitler system. It is too early to make pronouncements such as President Wilson made, may they even be very useful. As to your proposal, I shall certainly be glad to issue another statement, such as you request.”

The President turned toward the delegation for suggestions. All, except Rabbi Rosenberg, put in suggestions. Mine was about the possibility of getting some of the neutral representatives in Germany to intercede in behalf of the Jews. The President took notice of that but made no direct replies to the suggestions. The entire conversation on the part of the delegation lasted only a minute or two. As a matter of fact, of the 29 minutes spent with the President, he addressed the delegation for 23 minutes.

The President then plunged into a discussion of other matters. “We had a Jewish problem in North Africa” — he said. “As you know, we issued orders to free all the Jews from concentration camps, and we have also advised our representatives in North Africa to abolish all the special laws against the Jews and to restore the Jews to their rights. On this occasion I would like to mention that it has been called to our attention that prior to the war, Jews and Frenchmen enjoyed greater rights than Moslems in some of the North African states. There are 17 million Moslems in North Africa, and there is no reason why anyone should enjoy greater rights than they. It is not our purpose to fight for greater rights for anyone at the expense of another group. We are for the freedom for all and equal rights for all. We consider the attack on the Jews in Germany, in Poland, as an attack upon our ideas of freedom and justice, and that is why we oppose it so vehemently.” “Now you are interested in the Darlan matter. I can only illustrate this by a proverb, I recently heard from a Yugoslav priest–”When a river you reach and the devil you meet, with the devil do not quarrel until the bridge you cross.”

Apparently, at the end of this quotation the President must have pushed some secret button, and his adjutant appeared in the room. His eyes and broad shoulders showed determination. We rose from our seats, and, as we stood up, the President said: “Gentlemen, you can prepare the statement. I am sure that you will put the words into it that express my thoughts. I leave it entirely to you. You may quote from my statement to the Mass -Meeting in Madison Square Garden some months ago, but please quote it exactly. We shall do all in our power to be of service to your people in this tragic moment.”

The President then shook hands with each of us, and we filed out of the room.

Document 4
2.4.37 (1)
Events are happening so rapidly that I am compelled to record my thoughts in this diary. Ever since Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor on 30 January 1933,(2) life has gotten so bad that I have decided that I must leave.(3) My name is Hannah Rosen. I’m twenty now and able to think on my own. I live in Friedberg,(4) Germany, and used to go to Friedberg Gymnasium before I was thrown out by the Nazis two years ago. Last year, after her husband died of diabetes, my older sister, Rebecca, and her seven year old son, Daniel, moved in with my parents. Lisle, my mother, is kind and sympathetic, but worries too much and carries a burden too heavy for her small shoulders. My father, Karl, is strong and kind. I trust him more than any other person in the world.
3.8.37
It has been decided. My uncle and aunt, Max and Ruth Riegner, who live in Chicago, will send me an affidavit(5) so I can get a visa to go to New York. Their son, Gerhart,(6) who lives in Geneva, has written me to tell me that when I get to the United States, I should contact Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, who will give me a job at the American Jewish Congress (AJC) in New York.(7)
23.9.37
Today, I leave with mixed feelings. My family has lived in Friedberg since the 1600s.(8) I don’t want to leave, but I know it is safer in America.(9) I only wish my parents and sister would come with me, instead of being so obstinate.(10) I know I must look forward and not look back. I’ll board the ship proudly with a suitcase in each hand and my diary hidden inside my blouse.
30.9.37
As I enter New York harbor and behold the Statue of Liberty, I feel a surge of emotion. How wonderful it is to feel secure again!(11)
1/17/38(12)
I rent a small flat in Manhattan and get a job at the AJC. I meet Rabbi Wise.(13) I tell him about my family, how I am trying to bring them here, and how I want to urge the Roosevelt administration to let more Jewish refugees into America.
5/3/38
Rebecca wrote me that our family went to visit our old friends, the Heinrichs. I know this means that they have gone into hiding.
7/16/38
The Evian Conference just ended.(14) President Roosevelt had called for it, raising all of our hopes by making it seem as if something would be done. However, nothing was accomplished. Was it all just for show?
11/10/38
I read in The New York Times (NYT) about a pogrom in Germany. Thousands of Jewish shop windows were smashed and hundreds of synagogues burned.(15) I hope my family is safe.
11/23/38
I received a letter from Rebecca relating the destruction on the 9th. Father’s shop is a wreck. Rebecca says that all Jews have been stripped of their positions, wealth, and property.(16) Now the Nazis propose an income tax for “Nazi charity.”(17) Rebecca has saved a bit of money to give to the Heinrichs to help pay for food. She is crowded in with three other families.
6/2/39
The ship, St. Louis, sailed to Cuba with 900 Jews, was turned away, and then headed to the U.S. coast. The U.S. government didn’t let the refugees in, forcing them back to Germany.(18) This makes me so angry. We’ve got to find a way to stop this from happening.
10/24/39
Despite the reports of the Jews’ worsening situation, the WJC and other Jewish organizations confront one main obstacle: the unwillingness of the Roosevelt administration and Congress to allow more Jews to immigrate by raising the quota limits.(19)
1/2/40
Rebecca informs me that three million books written by or referring to Jews were burned by Nazis.(20) Rebecca now wants to come to America. I’ll send her an affidavit, but it’s harder to get out of Germany now.
3/10/40
I have a theory that Roosevelt is straddling the fence. He is taking action, but very little. The “action” is supposed to please people like me; the “little” is supposed to please the anti-Semites.(21)
6/25/40
Rabbi Wise’s colleague, Dr. Nahum Goldmann,(22) told me how helpful Eleanor Roosevelt has been. Unfortunately, FDR has been listening to the State Department instead of his wife. I hope she’ll be able to convince him to change course, because so many lives are at stake.(23)
4/9/41
I’ve received many letters from Rebecca telling me that Daniel was taken away.(24) I’m worried about getting Rebecca and Daniel out of Europe. She will only leave with Daniel, and Daniel may be lost forever. The State Department has issued further restrictions on immigration.(25)
5/1/41
How amazing! Rebecca stumbled across an old school friend who was head of the children’s concentration camp where Daniel was held.(26) He asked if there were anything he could do for her, and she told him about Daniel. Daniel was sent home right away. Rebecca and Daniel are finally coming to America. However, Mother and Father cannot come until their passport numbers are called.
6/13/41
The Nyassa,(27) on which Rebecca and Daniel are travelling, arrived in port today. What a happy reunion it was. The Nazis are now blocking the exits of the European countries under their control.(28) Rebecca and Daniel were on the last ship! I’m very afraid that Mother and Father will die. All this news is too much for me. My heart is heavy and will not bear the pain my mind is giving me.
10/26/41
Since Roosevelt signed the Bloom-Van Nuys bill in June,(29) the State Department’s policy on immigration has become even worse, according to Rabbi Wise. Now, it’s even harder to get into this country.(30)
12/8/41
America has officially entered the war. Maybe this will mean America will allow more Jews to take refuge here.(31)
6/30/42
The New York Herald Tribune (NYHT) finally had a front page story on the massacre of a million Jews.(32) Though horrifying, this article contains hard facts, however late. I am outraged to have found such a brief article about the killings in Chelmno buried on page five in NYT on June 27.(33) Even worse, there was only a two-inch article about the Bund Report on the same day in NYT.(34) Why is the plight of the Jews in Europe getting so little attention?
9/7/42
Cousin Gerhart sent me a letter from Geneva explaining the Nazi terror(35) and suggested that I ask Rabbi Wise about a recent message he sent. Rabbi Wise discussed Gerhart’s telegram(36) and said that a similar copy had been sent to Sydney Silverman,(37) who then sent it to Rabbi Wise who received it on August 28, three weeks after Gerhart had sent it.(38) The telegram states that Hitler is now implementing the “Final Solution” to kill all remaining Jews. I’m grief-stricken. Oh Gott! Mother! Father! The AJC wants to publicize information about all the atrocities in Europe that the Jewish organizations are learning about through very reliable sources. Rabbi Wise wants U.S. citizens to know about the “Final Solution,” but the State Department wants to withhold the information until it is verified.(39) The AJC knows it must compromise. This is a dilemma. Rabbi Wise is being criticized heavily for complying with the State Department’s position, but he feels that without government confirmation, the news would be thought of as just more Jewish propaganda. Because he wants the State Department to recommend action to the President, Rabbi Wise knows that he has to comply. Furthermore, he knows there are many anti-Semites inside and outside the government who would not believe the information in the Riegner telegram without the government’s corroboration.(40) I agree whole-heartedly with Rabbi Wise’s decision because the State Department might never recommend action if he doesn’t heed them.
11/25/42
NYT carried an announcement on page ten by Rabbi Wise about the slaughter of two million Jews.(41) I feel sick. What is the world doing about this destruction?
11/26/42
Yesterday on page one, NYHT reported Rabbi Wise’s press conference in Washington.(42) Rabbi Wise told the world that there is an “extermination campaign” to kill all European Jews. This catastrophe was only reported in NYT on page ten.(43) Today, NYT reported on page sixteen on another press conference held by Rabbi Wise.(44) Although buried, the article does give a good description of how Rabbi Wise met with many Jewish leaders on the morning of the 25th and then told the press that his information had been confirmed by the State Department. I’m thrilled! Rabbi Wise has been pleased about these events. I’m sure this means Roosevelt will intervene. My hopes are high and nothing can bring them down.
12/2/42
I scurry about excitedly. Today is the Day of Mourning.(45) It reminds me of the Madison Square Garden rally last July.(46) For a few minutes every radio will be silent, every road will be clear to mourn those unfortunate Nazi victims in Europe. Maybe this will get America’s politicians’ attention.
12/9/42
I’m seething to find only on page twenty of NYT the account of Rabbi Wise’s meeting with Roosevelt.(47) Rabbi Wise and other Jewish leaders took all their information to Roosevelt and begged him to do all in his power to save the Jews.(48)
12/18/42
There’s finally a front page story in NYT about the atrocities in Europe. It’s really the first public acknowledgement by the U.S. government and ten other nations of the mass murder of the Jews.(49) I haven’t heard from Mother or Father in so long. I lay awake at night fearing they’re in a concentration camp.
4/30/43
How terrible! At the Bermuda Conference, the U.S. government has failed once again. Just like the Evian Conference in 1938, the U.S. government has been all words and no action.(50)
7/23/43
Rabbi Wise met with FDR yesterday regarding Gerhart’s plan to rescue thousands of Rumanian Jews;(51) the President gave his approval.(52)
7/29/43
Rabbi Wise and Dr. Goldmann introduced me to a young man, Jan Karski, working for the Polish underground. Karski met with FDR and informed him of the fate of Europe’s Jews.
According to Rabbi Wise, the President replied that we will win the war and that the enemies will be punished.(53) I am disappointed that this is what Roosevelt told him. Roosevelt cares more about winning the war than he does about the dying Jews. I am overcome with anger.
12/20/43
Everyone here is talking about Breckinridge Long’s testimony to Congress on America’s immigration policy. Members of Congress are saying he lied to the committee about how many Jews had been allowed to enter America.(54) I’m so glad that Representative Celler told everyone that Long was not telling the truth.(55)
1/3/44
I’ve learned that Breckinridge Long and Sumner Welles tried to prevent sending money to European Jews to help them escape from the Nazis.(56) Treasury Secretary Morgenthau, who pushed for sending the money, found out about the State Department’s sabotage.(57) I’m exhilarated. Long and the State Department’s policy have been exposed.
1/17/44 Good news! Rabbi Wise told me about yesterday’s meeting at the White House.(58) The conflict within the government between the State and Treasury Departments(59) may be resolved.
2/6/44
John Pehle was appointed to direct the War Refugee Board (WRB).(60) This is the answer to our prayers and efforts.
Finally, something is really being done.(61)
9/15/44
I heard from Rabbi Wise that the War Department has once again refused to bomb Auschwitz.(62) How absurd! I know bombing could kill many Jews, but imagine how many would be saved from annihilation in the gas chambers. The AJC fought very hard to persuade the government to bomb Auschwitz. This time the battle is between John Pehle at the WRB and John McCloy at the War Department. This conflict once again demonstrates America’s unwillingness to use its power to save Jews. At least the WRB is having some success in other areas.(63)
5/8/45
Yesterday, the war in Europe finally ended.(64) When I think back, there were so many conflicts with and within the Roosevelt administration about what to do and so many compromises that everyone made–compromises paid for in Jewish blood. FDR was compromising constantly. On one hand, he told Jewish leaders and important figures, including Karski, that he wanted to do all that he could to help to save the Jews. On the other hand, he failed to make any policy decisions or do anything concretely to help until he finally created the WRB in early 1944 and appointed Pehle to head it.(65) Still, FDR was a great man because he did all he could to destroy Hitler and win the war. However, winning the war was what came first to him–not saving the Jews.(66) Aside from the Jewish organizations, there was no real constituency to persuade him to do both concurrently. I think that until 1941, when Europe closed its doors to the outside world, much more could and should have been done to save the Jews. I’m glad that the war is over, but very disappointed in my adopted country’s government. I grieve for my parents and many of my friends who probably died because FDR was not persuaded to do more to save Europe’s Jews.

Document 5
Failure of US State Department to respond to Holocaust
The areas of deception were growing, and so was Morgenthau’s indignation. He assigned the Treasury Department’s general counsel, Randolph Paul, to check the original text of 354. Paul managed to get hold of an exact copy of the original, complete with its introductory cross-reference. Now Morgenthau, convinced of State Department perfidy, instructed Paul to prepare a paper documenting the eight months’ delay. At the same time, he scheduled a meeting with the President for January 16.
Paul turned the project over to the chief counsel of the Foreign Funds Control Division, an intense young man named Josiah E. DuBois, Jr. DuBois became the principal architect of the paper, although he was given a major assist by John Pehle.
This 18-page narrative, prepared by three Protestants, was entitled REPORT TO THE SECRETARY ON THE ACQUIESCENE OF THIS GOVERNMENT IN THE MURDER OF THE JEWS. It was signed by Randolph Paul and has never before been published:
1. [State Department officials] have not only failed to use the Governmental machines at their disposal to rescue Jews from Hitler, but have even gone so far as to use this Governmental machinery to prevent the rescue of these Jews.
2. They have not only failed to cooperate with private organizations in the efforts of these organizations to work out individual programs of their own, but have taken steps designed to prevent these programs from being put into effect.
3. They not only have failed to facilitate the obtaining of information concerning Hitler’s plans to exterminate the Jews of Europe but in their official capacity have gone so far as to surreptitiously attempt to stop the obtaining of information concerning the murder of the Jewish population of Europe.
4. They have tried to cover up their guilt by:
a. concealment and misrepresentation;
b. the giving of false and misleading explanations for their failures to act and their attempts to prevent action; and
c. the issuance of false and misleading statements concerning the ‘action’ which they have taken to date.”
The report also said: “While the State Department has been thus ‘exploring’ the whole refugee problem, without distinguishing between those who are in imminent danger of death and those who are not, hundreds of thousands of Jews have been allowed to perish.”
The draft submitted to Morgenthau included a point-by-point chronology of State’s listless response to rescue opportunities.
Morgenthau retitled the document PERSONAL REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT, condensed it by half and changed some of the language, but it remained tough and uncompromising.
When Morgenthau, Paul and Pehle visited the White House on Sunday, January 16, 1914, the Secretary handed the President his PERSONAL REPORT. Roosevelt read it quickly in their presence. The new version began with a direct attack, its emotion compensating for its syntax:
“You are probably not as familiar as I with the utter failure of certain officials in our State Department, who are charged with actually carrying out this policy, to take any effective action to prevent the extermination of the Jews in German-controlled Europe…. Although they have used devices such as setting up intergovernmental organizations to survey the whole refugee problem, … making it appear that positive action could be expected, in fact nothing has been accomplished…. Whether one views this failure as being deliberate on the part of those officials handling the matter, or merely due to their incompetence, is not too important from my point of view. However, there is a growing number of responsible people and organizations today who have ceased to view our failure as the product of simple incompetence on the part of those officials … handling this problem. They see plain Anti?Semitism motivating the actions of these State Department officials and, rightly or wrongly, it will require little more in the way of proof for this suspicion to explode into a nasty scandal.”
The document ended on a fervent note:
“The facts I have detailed in this report, Mr. President, came to the Treasury’s attention as a part of our routine investigation of the licensing of the financial phases of the proposal of the World Jewish Congress for the evacuation of Jews from … Rumania. The facts may thus be said to have come to light through accident. How many others of the same character are buried in State Department files is a matter I would have no way of knowing…. This much is certain, however. The matter of rescuing the Jews from extermination is a trust too great to remain in the hands of men who are indifferent, callous, and perhaps even hostile. The task is filled with difficulties. Only a fervent will to accomplish, backed by persistent and untiring effort can succeed where time is so precious.”
Roosevelt reacted sympathetically to the report and to the comments of his visitors, as they amplified their criticism of the State Department. John Pehle, as head of Foreign Funds Control, argued forcefully that the rescue of the Jews would in no way impede economic warfare against the Axis. The lean young man who stood before the President of the United States backed his arguments with an arsenal of facts.
As Roosevelt listened to his exposition of the facts and fallacies of economic warfare, he must have noted Pehle’s obvious talents and filed them for future reference. Later, this most political of Presidents would select the nonpolitical Pehle to direct a last-minute rescue operation.
As the Treasury representatives dissected the obstructive tactics of the State Department, Roosevelt must have realized that his own failure to liberalize refugee policies bore much of the responsibility. Furthermore, Morgenthau’s PERSONAL REPORT contained political dynamite, and Roosevelt knew it. If it were made public, the damage to the prestige and good faith of his Administration would be incalculable.
Morgenthau’s report aggravated an already serious situation. Only a few weeks earlier, the secret testimony of Breckinridge Long before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on November 26 had been released, arousing wide public protest. The committee had been considering a resolution urging “the creation by the President of a commission of diplomatic, economic and military experts to formulate and effectuate a plan of immediate action designed to save the surviving Jewish people of Europe from extinction at the hands of Nazi Germany.”
In his testimony, Long denied the need for such a commission on the ground that State was already aiding rescue work in the most effective manner. “I have been in supervisory control and direction of its movements,” he exclaimed, describing the teamwork between himself, George Brandt, Robert Borden Reams and Howard Travers, the chief of the Visa Division.
According to Long, the appointment of a Presidential rescue commission would signify a repudiation of the State Department’s efforts and would reflect unfavorably upon the work of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees.
This latter comment awakened the interest of Rep. Will Rogers, Jr. (D., Calif.), a cosponsor of the resolution. Rogers pointed out that the Intergovernmental Committee seemed to have no American office. “We have never known in the past exactly where to go,” he told Long. “Is there any office of the Intergovernmental Committee anyplace other than in London?”
LONG: “No….”
ROGERS: “They have no branch office?”
LONG: “They have not up to now. But we have made that proposal to them.”
The statement by Long that evoked the most bitter criticism was his claim that “We have taken into this country since the beginning of the Hitler regime and the persecution of the Jews, until today, approximately 580,000 refugees.”
This was an utter misrepresentation of the facts. The official annual reports of the Immigration and Naturalization Service revealed that of the total of 176,930 aliens of all religions from all countries who entered the United States between July 1, 1933, and June 30, 1943, 165,756 were Jews. Of these, about 138,000 had escaped persecution. During this ten-year period, United States immigration quotas could have permitted the entry of over 1,500,000 aliens. Thus the number of Jews entering the United States (luring this period approximated 10 percent of the total number of immigrants permissible under law.
Long and Rep. Karl E. Mundt agreed with each other that it was not the American way to single out one group for special consideration:
Mundt said: “As a general policy for this country it is not good practice for us to establish a precedent, or if the precedent is already established, to emphasize it, whereby we pass legislation which singles out groups of people by their religion, or by their color or their faith, or their political affiliations, either for special consideration or for special penalty.”
Long’s view was that “the State Department has maintained that attitude all through, but the situation has come to a state of publicity today where I think the Jewish interests have emphasized the fate of the Jews as such….”
According to Long, there was one insurmountable obstacle — the shortage of ships. This, he said, presented the principal barrier to greater efforts by the United States.
This argument conflicted with the report by a study group on shipping and transportation that had met some months earlier and had reported its findings to the Emergency Conference to Save the Jews of Europe. According to the representative of the Norwegian Journal of Commerce and Shipping, there were sufficient vessels available to transfer at least 50,000 Jews a month from the Balkans to Palestine or the Mediterranean ports. Furthermore, United States troop transports to Europe and Allied ships bearing food to Greece often returned empty.
Long closed his testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee by urging Congress to suspend any bills to set up a special Presidential rescue commission for the Jews. “The point is,” he said, “that the historic attitude of the United States as a haven for the oppressed has not changed. The Department of State has kept the door open. It has been carefully screened, but the door is open and the demands for a wider opening cannot be justified for the time being because there just is not any transportation.”
The repercussions of Breckinridge Long’s testimony must have been on Franklin Roosevelt’s mind as he listened to the Treasury Department’s documented case against the State Department on January 16, 1944.
The criticism that had followed Long’s appearance lent substance to the arguments for a Presidential rescue commission. It was very late, but not too late for a determined new effort. As the Secretary of the Treasury and his associates singled out opportunities offered and rejected, Franklin D. Roosevelt knew that he would have to take action — and quickly. The Treasury men had been farsighted enough to bring along the suggested draft of an executive order establishing a War Refugee Board. Roosevelt reacted enthusiastically and proposed that Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson join Morgenthau and Hull as its nominal heads. He urged Morgenthau to discuss the proposal with the new Under Secretary of State, Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.
That afternoon at 5:30, Morgenthau, Paul and Pehle met with the handsome, silver-haired Stettinius and with Roosevelt’s assistant and confidant, Samuel I. Rosenman. Morgenthau and Pehle told Stettinius bluntly that some State Department officials, particularly Long, had obstructed rescue. Stettinius said that he was not surprised by Long’s performance, since the Assistant Secretary had also bungled a proposed exchange of prisoners. Stettinius, who was planning an administrative reorganization of the State Department, said that Long would be assigned to congressional relations and removed from matters affecting refugees.
On January 22, 1944, only six days after the confrontation with the Treasury Department, Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the establishment of the War Refugee Board. John Pehle was named acting executive director.
Executive Order 9417, creating the board, began by stating that “it is the policy of this government to take all measures within its power to rescue the victims of enemy oppression who are in imminent danger of death and otherwise to afford such victims all possible relief and assistance consistent with the successful prosecution of the war.”
For the first time since Hitler’s accession to power in 1933, United States policy called for the rescue of the innocent. Seventeen months had passed since Gerhart Riegner’s revelation that Hitler was carrying out his threat to eliminate every Jew in Europe. At least four million had perished during the period of Allied apathy. It was late, very late in the war. The German machinery of destruction was in full operation. Thousands of men, women and children were walking to their death each day. Adolf Eichmann was efficient and implacable, and he always managed to find cattle cars for his victims in spite of wartime shortages of transport.
In attempting to combat this slaughter, the War Refugee Board would work with a small staff, meager funds and in close contact with a State Department that had permitted the American tradition of sanctuary for the oppressed to be despoiled. Between 1933 and 1944, this tradition had been displaced by a combination of political expediency, diplomatic evasion, isolationism and indifference that played directly into the hands of Adolf Hitler even as he set in motion the plans for the greatest mass murder in history.
–excerpted from David Wyman’s The Abandonment of the Jews, 1984