Évian Conference
The Évian Conference was convened 6–15 July 1938 at Évian-les-Bains, in France, to address the problem of jewish refugees from Europe. It was the initiative of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt who hoped to obtain commitments from some of the invited nations to accept more jews. Historians have suggested that Roosevelt wanted to deflect attention and criticism from official American policy that severely limited the quota of jewish refugees admitted to the United States.[1]
The conference was attended by representatives from 32 countries, presenting plans either orally or in writing. 24 voluntary organizations also attended as observers, one of whom was the jewish Golda Meir from Palestine. Some 200 international journalists gathered at Évian to observe and report on the meeting. The Soviet Union refused to take part in the conference. The delegations from the 32 participating nations failed to come to any agreement. The conference therefore proved to be a useful propaganda tool for the German government which was engaged in actively promoting and aiding jewish emigration.[2]