Nearly the New World: Refugees and the British West Indies, 1933-1945

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When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", University of Southampton, name of the University School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination http://eprints.soton.ac.uk UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON NEARLY THE NEW WORLD: REFUGEES AND THE BRITISH WEST INDIES, 1933-1945 Joanna Frances Newman, BA (Hons), MA Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in the University of Southampton History Department April 1998 2 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON ABSTRACT FACULTY OF ARTS HISTORY Doctor of Philosophy NEARLY THE NEW WORLD: REFUGEES AND THE BRITISH WEST INDIES, 1933- 1945 by Joanna Newman This thesis examines the role of the Caribbean as a place of refuge, internment and transit for Jewish refugees from Europe during the interwar and Second World War period. It approaches the subject from the different perspectives of the British Government, West Indian colonies, refugee organisations and refugees themselves. It is divided into three parts, the first examining local, national and international concerns of the British Government towards its colonies in the Caribbean. It explores how these concerns impacted on the development of immigration policy in the British West Indies, and how the Colonial Office managed to steer a course between protecting West Indian interests and following Government directives over its refugee policy. The second section traces the vital role played by British, American and European Jewish refugee organisations. It explores their practical involvement in directing refugees to the West Indies, in negotiating entry for refugees with invalid travel documents, and in providing maintenance. It also explores how the West Indies took on greater significance for refugee bodies as the war progressed. Whilst concentrating on their involvement with the West Indies, this section analyses the achievements and limitations facing voluntary refugee bodies during this period. The last section of this thesis considers the movement of refugees to the British West Indies, analysing how much choice was involved in their destination. Particular attention is paid to the experience of internment and attempts to establish Jewish communities. The reactions of British West Indians to the question of Jewish immigration, and to the presence of Jewish refugees is explored within the context of the social, political and economic situation of the British West Indies in the 1930s and 1940s. Acknowledgments I would like to thank the following institutions for providing generous support: the University of Southampton for a three year Archive Studentship Award, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University for a Junior Fellowship, the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnatti for a Fellowship in American Jewish Studies. I thank staff at the following libraries and archives for access to their materials and for their helpful assistance: in Cincinnatti, Kathy Spray, Kevin Profitt and staff at the American Jewish Archives, in New York, Dr Diane Spielmann and staff at the Leo Baeck Institute, staff at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Archives, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the New York Public Library, the Yivo Archive. In Washington, Milton Gustafson and staff at the National Archives. In Berlin, staff at the Zentrum fur Antisemitismusforschung. In London, staff at the British Library, The British Newspaper Library, the Institute for Commonwealth Studies, the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, the Institute for Historical Research, the Public Record Office, University College Library, the University of London Library, the Wiener Library. In Southampton, thanks to Karen Robson, Jenny Ruthven and Dr Chris Woolgar of the Parkes Library and University of Southampton Archive. I thank Dr Tony Kushner for supervising this thesis, for his critical help in reading and re- reading drafts, and for his encouragement, good advice, patience (in abundance) and unstinting help and support. Also at the University of Southampton, I would like to thank Dr Neil Gregor and Mr Stephan Pavlowitich for reading early drafts and for their helpful comments. I thank Dr Louise London for the stimulating discussions, advice and encouragement she has given me throughout my research. In Cincinnatti, I am grateful to Dr Abraham Peck for his help and support, and for giving me the opportunity to present my work at a seminar held by the American Jewish Archives. Professor Roger Daniels at the University of Cincinnatti gave me early encouragement and good ideas. In London, Professor John Klier at University College London has always been supportive and encouraging, as has Dr Michael Alpert, who taught me the value of index cards! During the course of this thesis I have many people to thank who took the trouble to help answer questions, share information and discuss their experiences with me. I would particularly like to thank Henry Altaian, Bridget Brereton, University of the West Indies, Alan and Hazel Delgado, Donah Farah, Lennox Honychurch, Aubrey Rose, Lore and Edward Schonbeck, Hans Stecher, Professor Herbert Strauss, Miriam Stanton and Professor Dr Fullberg-Stolberg, University of Hannover. I would also like to acknowledge the friendship and support of family and friends, who contributed to the completion of this thesis in varied ways. For taking the time to read drafts, for their insightful comments and long telephone conversations, I thank my father, Dr Claus Newman and Adrian Harper. Love and thanks also go to Ruth, Erica, Becky and Charlie Newman, and Lizzy Bacon, Ursula and Fritz Beer, Leah Chapman, Gillian O Donovan, Bertrand, Eleonore and Jimmy James, Sarah Leigh, Lawrence Mockett, Peggy Vance, Dusty Wesker, Jeff Williams and Marijke Wolseley. Lastly I specially thank Uwe Westphal, who encouraged me to return to academic studies, and for his love and friendship. This thesis is dedicated to my grandparents, Alice and Franz Newman, Lore and Curt Rockwell and is in memory of the many known and unknown individuals who worked for refugee organisations and gave their time, energy and dedication to helping others. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments 3 Abbreviations 7 Introduction 8 PART I: THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT Chapter 1: The British Government, refugees and the British West Indies Introduction 18 -I- Survey of British interests in the West Indies 20 System of government in the British West Indies 27 The Colonial Office 30 -II- Immigration regulations 32 - Ill - British Government policy towards mass and individual refuge 51 Conclusion 79 PART II: JEWISH REFUGEE ORGANISATIONS Chapter 2: Bound for Nowhere: Jewish refugee organisations and the West Indies 1933 - 1939. Introduction 80 -I- The development of Jewish refugee organisations 83 -II- The effect of Nazi policy on German Jewish emigration 1933-1939 92 -Ill- Jewish organisations in the 1930s 96 Jewish refugee organisations and the West Indies 102 Conclusion 118 Chapter 3: Jewish refugee organisations and the West Indies 1939 -1945 Introduction 121 -I- Jewish refugee organisations during the war 122 -II- Refugees and the British West Indies 135 Gibraltar Camp 143 -III- The importance of the West Indies 152 Conclusion 157 PART III: THE WEST INDIES Chapter 4: Nearly the New World: Refugees and the British West Indies, 1933 -1945 Introduction 159 -I- Refugee Arrivals 163 -II- Refugee Communities in the West Indies 177 -Ill- Internment and remigration 194 Conclusion 209 Chapter 5: A New Jerusalem? British West Indians and Jewish Refugees Introduction 212 -I- The British West Indies 213 -II- "Lets give serious contemplation to the question of Jewish immigration" 230 -Ill- Refugee reception 243 Conclusion 258 Conclusion 26.1 2£5 Bibliography 266 ABBREVIATIONS AIU Alliance Israelite Universalle AJA Anglo Jewish Association AJAC American Jewish Archives, Cincinnatti ACLS Advanced Centre for Legal Studies CBF Central British Fund for the Relief of German Jewry CO Colonial Office GJAC German Jewish Aid Committee HIAS Hebrew and Immigrant Aid Society ICA Jewish Colonisation Association ICS Institute for Commonwealth Studies JAT Jewish Association Trinidad JDC American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee JRS Jewish Refugee Society, Trinidad JTS Jewish Theological Seminary, New York LBI Leo Baeck Institute, New York NA National Archives, Washington PRO Public Record Office, London SA University of Southampton Archive WL Wiener Library, London Yivo Yivo Institute Archives, New York 8 INTRODUCTION As the Holocaust becomes a more distant event, the emphasis of research on Allied responses to the Nazi regime has changed from focusing on blame to explanation. The first works to analyse British and American responses to the Holocaust tended to reflect anger and frustration at the failure of Allied powers to rescue Jews. In these works, the suggestion has been made that had Allied powers made the rescue of Jews a priority, more could have

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