June 7, 1939
Rejection of the St. Louis
907 desperate German-Jew refugees aboard the St. Louis are denied sanctuary in Canada. Mackenzie King refused the St. Louis due to his belief that this was not a Canadian problem. The Canadian Jewish Congress with several prominent members of the Jewish communities plead with King, even offering to pay for the refugees themselves so as to absolve the government from any financial duties. Despite this, the liner was sent back to Europe and most of the Jews (who weren’t taken in by Britain) died. This event alludes to the anti-Semitic climate of Canada and demonstrates just how closed the Canadian doors were to Jewish refugees.
Rejection of the St. Louis
907 desperate German-Jew refugees aboard the St. Louis are denied sanctuary in Canada. Mackenzie King refused the St. Louis due to his belief that this was not a Canadian problem. The Canadian Jewish Congress with several prominent members of the Jewish communities plead with King, even offering to pay for the refugees themselves so as to absolve the government from any financial duties. Despite this, the liner was sent back to Europe and most of the Jews (who weren’t taken in by Britain) died. This event alludes to the anti-Semitic climate of Canada and demonstrates just how closed the Canadian doors were to Jewish refugees.
