[4.14. Emigration to
North "America" - activities of the
Joint in North "America"]
[Figures of German Jewish
immigration to the "USA"]
The other main center of immigration for Europe's Jewish refugees was,
of course, the North American continent itself. Much has been written
to show how restrictive United States practices were, and how
occasional attempts by groups and individuals to break through the wall
of hostility were foiled by the great latitude that was given to local
consuls in their application of visa-granting procedures, and by the
support these consuls were given in their restrictive attitudes by
State Department officials.
(End note 73:
-- Morse, op. cit. [While Six Million Died; New York 1968];
-- Henry L. Feingold: Politics of Rescue; New Brunswick, N.J., 1969;
-- David S. Wyman: Paper Walls; Amherst, Mass., 1968)
The actual statistics of immigration from Germany to the United States
in the 1930s certainly bear witness to these strictures, at least as
far as the first years of Nazi rule in Germany are concerned.
The total up to 1938, according to this source, was 63,485 persons from
Germany (including Austria, after March 1938). If 85 % of these
immigrants were Jews, then the Jewish immigration from Germany would
have been
about 54,000. The
quota for Germany was 26,000 (together with
the quote for Austria it came (p.168)
Table
9
Immigration from Germany to the United States
|
Year
|
1933/4
|
1934/5
|
1935/6
|
1936/7
|
1937/8
|
July-December
1938
|
No. of immigrants
|
4,392
|
5,201
|
6,346
|
10,895
|
17,199
|
19,452
|
(End
note 74: See Germany-AFSC file)
|
to 27,370); it is therefore clear that up to 1936, U.S. immigration
practices even under the existing quota arrangements were very
restrictive.
[Rising immigration 1936-1939 -
reasons Palestine restrictions and Austria occupation]
But this is no longer quite so clear after 1936. The quota was utilized
in 1936 to the extent of 40 %, rising to 63 % in 1937 and to 71 % in
slightly over half of fiscal 1938/9. The quota itself was very small,
and the fact that even that was not fully utilized is a grim reflection
of American practices. The increase in immigration into the United
States came just as the British were restricting entrance to Palestine,
and by the end of 1938, 38 % of the Jews emigrating from Germany had
come to the United States.
[JDC supports the Jewish refugees
- and avoids publicity]
JDC's attitude toward Jewish immigration into the United States was
ambivalent. The main desire of the organization was to avoid publicity
about the numbers of Jews entering the country, for fear of an outcry
from the many restrictionist elements in and out of Congress. JDC
allocated money to groups and organizations engaged in absorbing these
immigrants in the United States, but efforts were made to avoid
publicity. These expenditures came to $ 237,180 in 1936 and climbed to
$ 342,000 and $ 500,313 in the two succeeding years.
(End note 75: R13, 1936 draft report, and ibid. [Germany-AFSC file],
1937 and 1938 reports)
the great advantage in bringing so many refugees to countries outside
of Europe was that for the majority, their wanderings were thereby
ended. Overseas settlement meant final absorption within a reasonable
period of time. By contrast, refugees in European countries could not
expect to remain there indefinitely. Most of (p.169)
them had to plan another move, and their stay in Europe was fraught
with economic difficulties and endless frustrations.
[Canada is not mentioned].
