Roosevelt and the Holocaust by Robert L. Beir

Author:Robert L. Beir
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“With a Determined Resolve”

In the spring of 1940 an American code clerk named Tyler Kent was caught turning American-British diplomatic correspondence, including Roosevelt-Churchill exchanges, over to Axis sympathizers. The information, relayed to the Nazi government, helped the Germans crack the American code. The effects on Roosevelt were considerable. “From this point on,” historian Richard Breitman wrote, “FDR could hardly overemphasize the fifth column danger.”1 Roosevelt in fact appointed a point person on issues relating to national security. He chose Breckinridge Long.

A descendant of the notable Breckinridge family of Kentucky and the Long family of North Carolina, Breckinridge Long became acquainted with Franklin Roosevelt during the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson. Long, who was born in Missouri and active in local politics, became a Third Assistant Secretary of State. Roosevelt at the time served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. The two men became friends. Later, during the election of 1932, Breckinridge Long made a sizable contribution to FDR’s campaign. Also, at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, Long’s work as a floor manager assisted FDR in his attempt to gain the Democratic nomination. Roosevelt, after winning the election, rewarded Long with an Ambassadorship in Italy. At first Long was in awe of the Fascisti of Italy. “Mussolini is an astounding character . . . ,” he wrote. “The Fascisti in their black shirts are apparent in every community. They are dapper and well dressed and stand up straight and lend an atmosphere of individuality and importance to their surroundings.”2 Eventually, Long soured on the Fascisti, calling the movement, “deliberate, determined, obdurate, ruthless and vicious.” But throughout his stay in Italy (1933 to 1936), he impressed the man in the White House. “I do not need to tell you how proud I am of the splendid record you made in Rome ...,” Roosevelt wrote to Long. “You are a grand fellow—and you know my devotion to you. . . . After November [the election of 1936] I shall want you again to be part of the Administration.”3 That promotion came after Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. Roosevelt asked Long to serve as Special Assistant Secretary of State. In January of 1940 Roosevelt promoted Long to Assistant Secretary of State. In that policy-making position, Long oversaw twenty-three of the forty-two divisions, including passports and visas.

In June 1940, Breckinridge Long formulated a new visa policy. In a memorandum distributed within the State Department he wrote, “We can delay and effectively stop for a temporary period of indefinite length the number of immigrants into the United States. We could do this by simply advising our Consuls to put every obstacle in the way to require additional evidence and to resort to various administrative advices which would postpone and postpone and postpone the granting of the visas.” Long’s policy decisions were sent to diplomatic and Consular officers on June 29. A terse but satisfied Long wrote in his diary, “The cables practically stopping immigration went!”

The new policy, for Europeans, created a sense of desperation.

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