Evian Conference

A conference convened by President Franklin D. Roosevelt from July 6-15, 1938 in Evian-les-Bains, France, to discuss which countries could receive Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe.

Delegates from thirty-two countries were represented at the conference, yet little was accomplished, since most Western countries were reluctant to accept any refugees. Rather than sending a high-level government official, the U.S. was represented by businessman and close friend of President Roosevelt, Myron C. Taylor. During the nine-day meeting, delegate after delegate rose to express sympathy for the refugees, but most countries, including the United States and Britain, offered only excuses for not letting in more refugees. The notable exception was the Dominican Republic, which invited 100,000 people.

The conference did result in the establishment of the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees (ICR), dedicated to continuing to work on the refugee problem, however with little success.