[H.
Reactions
abroad to the Reichskristallnacht / crystal night and
to the split of CSSR]
[6.24. Italy's policy against Jews 1938-1939
with deprivation of citizenship - exodus]
JDC had to intervene in other countries in Europe as well.
A steady stream of refugees had been entering Italy. At
the end of 1938 there were some 6,000 German and Austrian
Jews there, and they were not treated too badly. But as we
have already seen a decree of September 7, 1938, issued as
a result largely of German influence on the Italian
Fascist regime, stated that anyone who had acquired
Italian citizenship in recent years would have to leave
the country by March 12, 1939. Apart from the six thousand
refugees, this also affected 9,000 older immigrants into
Italy.
JDC tried its best to influence the Italian government to
desist from its declared intentions, and in early
February, Troper contacted Myron C. Taylor, who promised
to do his best to change the Italian's intentions.
Earlier, an influential Anglo-Scots banker, Sir Andrew
McFadeyan, a partner of Sigmund Warburg's in London, also
promised JDC to use his influence with the Italians.
(End note 123:
-- R10, Troper memo on talk with Myron C. Taylor, 2/15/39
[15 February 1939];
-- R55, report, 1/8/39 [8 January 1939])
[Anti-Semitic Italy:
Jewish Exodus by 12 March - further Jewish exodus]
While it is impossible to say whether all these efforts
had any effect, it is clear that by the time the fateful
March 12 came, half of the 15,000 Jews had left Italy;
between March and September, another 2,500 left. In the
end, about 4,000 people stayed behind and were not
molested by the authorities. Most of the emigrants went to
the Americas, and quite a number went to Nice. Apart from
the Jewish organizations, the Friends were again effective
in aiding the emigrating Jews (many of whom pretended to
be Catholics) get to South American countries.
(End note 124: Rosswell McClelland, interview (H).
