Memorandum for the President from the War Refugee Board
3/1944
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the War Refugee Board through Executive Order 9417 during World War II. The Board's job was to coordinate governmental and private efforts to rescue those who could still be saved from the Holocaust.
The Board was comprised of the Secretaries of the Departments of State, War, and Treasury. Acting Secretary of the Treasury Edward Stettinius, Jr.; Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr.; and Secretary of War Henry Stimson sent this memo to FDR urging him to issue the attached statement about the Holocaust.
The declaration called the systematic murder of the Jews of Europe "one of the blackest crimes in history." It also proclaimed "our determination that none who participate in such acts of savagery shall go unpunished" and promised to persevere in "our efforts to rescue the victims of Hitler's brutality" vowing that "this Government will use all means at its command to aid the escape of Jews and other intended victims of the Nazi executioner."
President Roosevelt made a revised version of the statement on March 24, 1944.
The Board was comprised of the Secretaries of the Departments of State, War, and Treasury. Acting Secretary of the Treasury Edward Stettinius, Jr.; Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr.; and Secretary of War Henry Stimson sent this memo to FDR urging him to issue the attached statement about the Holocaust.
The declaration called the systematic murder of the Jews of Europe "one of the blackest crimes in history." It also proclaimed "our determination that none who participate in such acts of savagery shall go unpunished" and promised to persevere in "our efforts to rescue the victims of Hitler's brutality" vowing that "this Government will use all means at its command to aid the escape of Jews and other intended victims of the Nazi executioner."
President Roosevelt made a revised version of the statement on March 24, 1944.
This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-FDRPSF: President's Secretary's File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration).
National Archives Identifier: 16620689
Full Citation: Memorandum for the President from the War Refugee Board; 3/1944; Refugees; Subject Files, 1933 - 1945; Collection FDR-FDRPSF: President's Secretary's File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration); Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/memo-president-war-refugee-board, May 31, 2023]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
