America Steps In
A few days later, the United States government finally moved to intervene. On April 18, the apostolic delegate in Washington reported that "government personalities and representatives of Jewish organizations" had assured him that the U.S. government was ready to assist those Jews at Vittel, once released, that is, if they were allowed to leave France, presumably to Spain. But on April 26, Nuncio Bernardini said the Spanish intervention was insufficient and inefficacious. Worse yet, those Jews had been transferred to Drancy.
The desperate race against the clock continued. On May 16,, the War Refugee Board came to the Delegate Cicognani with a new and belated proposal. they urged the Jews, estimated to total 238, be returned to Vittel from Drancy on Spanish initiative. Maglione, despite his grounds for werious misgivings, issued the instructions. On May 20, he informed the Madrid nuncio of the appeal, adding: "I am aware of the difficulty of obtaining what is requested; however, I beg Your Excellency to consider if it is possible to take any further step in this direction."
With the landing of the Allies in France on June 6, no further correspondence on this subject was possible.
Revised: November 13, 2000.
Copyright © 1997 by Catholic League for Religious and Civil
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