The Main Rejector of Jewish Immigration
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Immigration Director, F. C. Blair
Letter to F. Maclure Sclanders, Ottawa, 13 September 1938
OTTAWA, 13th September, 1938.
CONFIDENTIAL. Dear Mr. Sclanders,
...And so it goes, the poor Jew all over the world seems very unpopular and yet as you remark there are some very fine people amongst them. I often think that instead of persecution it would be far better if we more often told them frankly why many of them are unpopular. If they would divest themselves of certain of their habits I am sure they would be just as popular in Canada as our Scandinavians. It seems odd that it should be so but nevertheless it is true that there is a smaller percentage of Jews engaged in the basic industry of agricul- ture in this country than any other race or class of people we have, not exclud- ing Chinese, Japanese, Greeks, Syrians and Armenians and at the other end of the scale is the German with highest percentage. I am not finding fault with the Jew because he does not farm, but on the other hand it need not surprise these people that a country which since Confederation has encouraged the immigra- tion of the agricultural class, should favour other races than those who never or seldom farm. Just because Jewish people would not understand the frank kind of statements I have made in this letter to you, I have marked it confidential.
Yours faithfully, Director.
NAC, RG76, Immigration Branch Records, vol. 391, file 541782, part 5, p.57
As the Director of Immigration, F.C Blair had a lot of influence in making policies and decisions about who would be allowed to come into Canada. Immigration requirements in the early 20th century was much different than what it is today. Immigration standards were based on race rather than merit. In this excerpt, Blair very bluntly states his dislike for the Jews...and it seems very personal. His argument is based on the fact that Jews have habits that force everyone else to dislike them. It does not mention the possible contributions that Jews could make to Canada but rather focuses on the subjective dislike that Blair feels. The fact that he asks it to be confidential is very interesting because it makes it seem as though Blair realizes that these statements could receive critiques by some groups within Canada. This piece of writing by Blair clearly show his views on the Jews and can be used to understand that when given the option of allowing the refugees from the SS St. Louis, why Blair would have personally rejected them. To him, the immigration policy that prohibited Jews from entering Canada simply could not be altered and as a result, there was no question when it came to the decision of what to do about the SS St. Louis. Sending them away was the only option for Frederick Blair.
Letter to F. Maclure Sclanders, Ottawa, 13 September 1938
OTTAWA, 13th September, 1938.
CONFIDENTIAL. Dear Mr. Sclanders,
...And so it goes, the poor Jew all over the world seems very unpopular and yet as you remark there are some very fine people amongst them. I often think that instead of persecution it would be far better if we more often told them frankly why many of them are unpopular. If they would divest themselves of certain of their habits I am sure they would be just as popular in Canada as our Scandinavians. It seems odd that it should be so but nevertheless it is true that there is a smaller percentage of Jews engaged in the basic industry of agricul- ture in this country than any other race or class of people we have, not exclud- ing Chinese, Japanese, Greeks, Syrians and Armenians and at the other end of the scale is the German with highest percentage. I am not finding fault with the Jew because he does not farm, but on the other hand it need not surprise these people that a country which since Confederation has encouraged the immigra- tion of the agricultural class, should favour other races than those who never or seldom farm. Just because Jewish people would not understand the frank kind of statements I have made in this letter to you, I have marked it confidential.
Yours faithfully, Director.
NAC, RG76, Immigration Branch Records, vol. 391, file 541782, part 5, p.57
As the Director of Immigration, F.C Blair had a lot of influence in making policies and decisions about who would be allowed to come into Canada. Immigration requirements in the early 20th century was much different than what it is today. Immigration standards were based on race rather than merit. In this excerpt, Blair very bluntly states his dislike for the Jews...and it seems very personal. His argument is based on the fact that Jews have habits that force everyone else to dislike them. It does not mention the possible contributions that Jews could make to Canada but rather focuses on the subjective dislike that Blair feels. The fact that he asks it to be confidential is very interesting because it makes it seem as though Blair realizes that these statements could receive critiques by some groups within Canada. This piece of writing by Blair clearly show his views on the Jews and can be used to understand that when given the option of allowing the refugees from the SS St. Louis, why Blair would have personally rejected them. To him, the immigration policy that prohibited Jews from entering Canada simply could not be altered and as a result, there was no question when it came to the decision of what to do about the SS St. Louis. Sending them away was the only option for Frederick Blair.