What Prime Minister Mackenzie King Thought about Jewish Immigration to Canada
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Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King Diary Excerpt, Ottawa, 29 March 1938
...Attended Council from 12 till 1:30. A very difficult question has presented itself in Roosevelt’s appeal to different countries to unite with the United States in admitting refugees from Austria, Germany, etc. That means, in a word, admit- ting numbers of Jews. My own feeling is that nothing is to be gained by creat- ing an internal problem in an effort to meet an international one. That we must be careful not to seek to play a role of the dog in the manger so far as Canada is concerned, with our great open spaces and small population. We must nev- ertheless seek to keep this part of the Continent free from unrest and from too great an intermixture of foreign strains of blood, as much the same thing as lies at the basis of the Oriental problem. I fear we would have riots if we agreed to a policy that admitted numbers of Jews. Also we would add to the difficulties between the Provinces and the Dominion...
NAC, MG26, J13, King Diaries, file 121, p.1
Here, Mackenzie King is reacting to the Evian Conference held by Western countries to discuss what should be done with the Jewish refugee problem in Europe. Mackenzie King was against helping the Jews and this is very evident in this excerpt from his personal diary. Mackenzie King saw the Jewish people as a detrimental group to the Canadian economy and agriculture. He did not see the benefit of allowing Jews into Canada and felt that it would hurt his political career as anti-Semitic sentiments were quite common all throughout Canada at this time. On top of his personal feeling against the Jews, Mackenzie King also adored Adolf Hitler at this time. Mackenzie King visited Hitler in Berlin in 1936 and saw him as a great man. At the point of the SS St. Louis, WWII had not broken out yet and Mackenzie King had not yet viewed HItler as an enemy. His inclination towards the Nazi leader affected his attitudes towards Jews.
As taken from the Library and Archives website, one of the things that Mackenzie King said about Hitler during his visit included "My sizing up of the man as I sat and talked with him was that he is really one who truly loves his fellow-men, and his country, and would make any sacrifice for their good." (Diary, June 29, 1937) Hitler appeared to be "a man of deep sincerity and a genuine patriot." (Diary, June 29, 1937)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/king/023011-1070.05-e.html
Knowing Mackenzie King's stance on Jews at this time, and his support of Hitler, the events of the SS St. Louis seem to logically fall into consequence with this position. Mackenzie King, as the leader of Canada, did not approve of Jews in Canada. At every conference and conversation recorded, Mackenzie King showed no empathy towards Jewish refugees. Therefore, Mackenzie King not stepping up for the refugees on the SS St. Louis is just a reflection of his attitudes.
...Attended Council from 12 till 1:30. A very difficult question has presented itself in Roosevelt’s appeal to different countries to unite with the United States in admitting refugees from Austria, Germany, etc. That means, in a word, admit- ting numbers of Jews. My own feeling is that nothing is to be gained by creat- ing an internal problem in an effort to meet an international one. That we must be careful not to seek to play a role of the dog in the manger so far as Canada is concerned, with our great open spaces and small population. We must nev- ertheless seek to keep this part of the Continent free from unrest and from too great an intermixture of foreign strains of blood, as much the same thing as lies at the basis of the Oriental problem. I fear we would have riots if we agreed to a policy that admitted numbers of Jews. Also we would add to the difficulties between the Provinces and the Dominion...
NAC, MG26, J13, King Diaries, file 121, p.1
Here, Mackenzie King is reacting to the Evian Conference held by Western countries to discuss what should be done with the Jewish refugee problem in Europe. Mackenzie King was against helping the Jews and this is very evident in this excerpt from his personal diary. Mackenzie King saw the Jewish people as a detrimental group to the Canadian economy and agriculture. He did not see the benefit of allowing Jews into Canada and felt that it would hurt his political career as anti-Semitic sentiments were quite common all throughout Canada at this time. On top of his personal feeling against the Jews, Mackenzie King also adored Adolf Hitler at this time. Mackenzie King visited Hitler in Berlin in 1936 and saw him as a great man. At the point of the SS St. Louis, WWII had not broken out yet and Mackenzie King had not yet viewed HItler as an enemy. His inclination towards the Nazi leader affected his attitudes towards Jews.
As taken from the Library and Archives website, one of the things that Mackenzie King said about Hitler during his visit included "My sizing up of the man as I sat and talked with him was that he is really one who truly loves his fellow-men, and his country, and would make any sacrifice for their good." (Diary, June 29, 1937) Hitler appeared to be "a man of deep sincerity and a genuine patriot." (Diary, June 29, 1937)
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/king/023011-1070.05-e.html
Knowing Mackenzie King's stance on Jews at this time, and his support of Hitler, the events of the SS St. Louis seem to logically fall into consequence with this position. Mackenzie King, as the leader of Canada, did not approve of Jews in Canada. At every conference and conversation recorded, Mackenzie King showed no empathy towards Jewish refugees. Therefore, Mackenzie King not stepping up for the refugees on the SS St. Louis is just a reflection of his attitudes.