.1933-1948 Years Of British Jewish Refugee Policy

Great Britain had a longstanding tradition of admitting refugees in need of a safe haven, so soon after Hitler rose to national power and struck at Jews in Germany in January 1933, thousands of Jewish refugees flocked to Britain. The Jews of Britain, who quickly began establishing refugee aid organizations, and promised to British government authorities: The Jewish community would provide financial support for every Jewish refugee that entered Britain, and that no refugee would become a burden on the government. Based on this guarantee, Jewish refugees were allowed on a temporary basis. However, with the Nazi persecution of the Jews deepened and the in sight of World War II, Britain banned all emigration from Nazi-controlled territories. Throughout the war, only some 10,000 Jewish refugees managed to find their way into Britain. In the post-war period, British government actively sought immigrants except Jews, only small numbers of Jewish immigration were admitted. And the position of Jewish refugees have not been accepted, restrict on them did not ease. In all, throughout the period of Nazi rule, Great Britain has accepted a total of about 51,000 Jewish refugees, many refugees also through this transit station arrived in the United States. About the Jewish refugee policy of British government, there weren't many people paid attention to it in China. And the research results abroad are very rich, but views are divergent, the value is different on it. The author based on history materialism and connected with practice, started from the emigration tides of eastern European Jews in early 20th century, expatiated the measures of British Jewish refugee policy,specific exertion before and after World War II, tired to analyze the features, and objectively evaluate the effect. The measures,background and features were important parts.This paper was separated into four parts:Chapter I reviewed British Aliens Restriction Act and administration in early 20th century. The eastern European Jews were controlled to enter, this showed British modern system of immigration control varied from selective acceptance at first to roundly restricted refugees, to discuss the origin of British policy toward Central European Jewish refugees.Chapter II discussed British policy toward European Jewish refugees. Firstly, generally introduced British response and policies, gave a general appraisement for the start point of policy. Secondly, this part discussed the measures, immigration control and limited absorption, analyzed specific institution,execution and consequence in deep. Lastly, the important part in this chapter is influence factor of government's decision-making, highlighted the background of decision-making.Chapter III discussed British attitudes in international organizations or conference concerned with Jewish refugees, that contained League of Nations,Evian Conference,Bermuda Conference, and then illustrated the attitudes and policies of the British government.Chapter IV analyzed the feature of refugees policy, respectively explained the system source,ideological and reality source. And the author considered the positive aspect and negative aspect basing on analysis to the four chapters, and made an objective comment.Consequently, the author concluded that Britain's contribution to Jewish refugees is a positive move, but, though its emphasis changed as did the details under the pressure, the principles and preoccupations that guided it remained remarkably constant. The preoccupation of policy is the self-interest. In fact, the ministers and officials in Whitehall balanced their perceptions of national interest against humanitarian considerations, varied again and again, but it was defined by self-interest. And British refugee policy shows deep tensions within British political culture regarding the proper response of nation states to the persecution of foreigners abroad, which remain unresolved to this day.