Bermuda Conference

The Bermuda Conference was an international conference between the United Kingdom and the United States held on April 19, 1943 at Hamilton, Bermuda. Discussions included the question of Jewish refugees who had been liberated by Allied forces and those who still remained Nazi-occupied Europe.

The United States delegation was led by Dr. Harold W. Dodds.

Reaction

A "New York Times" article dated April 30, 1943 and titled "Hopeful Hint Ends Bermuda Sessions" ["Hopeful Hint Ends Bermuda Sessions," "New York Times," 30 April 1943, p. 9.] stated that recommendations which were not capable of being accomplished under war conditions and which would most likely delay the war effort of the United Nations were rejected.

A week later, the American Zionist Committee for a Jewish Army ran an advertisement in the "New York Times" condemning the United States efforts at Bermuda for being a mockery of past promises to the Jewish people and of Jewish suffering under Nazi occupation [“To 5,000,000 Jews in the Nazi Death-Trap Bermuda was a Cruel Mockery,” "New York Times", 04 May 1943, p. 17.] .

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 with the conference. As president, Truman went on to give the support Israel needed to be recognized as a state.

External links

* [http://yad-vashem.org.il/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%206001.pdf Bermuda Conference] from Yad Vashem's Shoa Research Centre
* [http://www.wymaninstitute.org/articles/2003-04-bermuda.php The Allies' Refugee Conference--A "Cruel Mockery" by Dr. Rafael Medoff]

References

See also

* International response to the Holocaust