Letter from Stephen Wise, President, American Jewish Congress, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt

AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS 330 WEST 42nd STREET NEW YORK CITY STEPHEN S. WISE, PRESIDENT CABLE ADDRESS 'CONGRESS' CARL SHERMAN, CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TELEPHONE LONGACRE 5-2600 NATHAN D. PERLMAN VICE-PRESIDENTS LEO H. LOWITZ LOUIS LIPSKY, CHAIRMAN, GOVERNING COUNCIL M. MALDWIN FERTIG, CHAIRMAN, ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE JACOB LEICHTMAN, TREASURER Office of Dr. Wise 40 West 68 Street, December 2, 1942. The President The White House Washington, D. C. Dear Boss: I do not wish to add an atom to the awful burden which you are bearing with magic and, as I believe, heaven-inspired strength at this time. But you do know that the most overwhelming disaster of Jewish history has befallen Jews in the form of the Hitler mass-massacres. Hitler's decision was to exterminate the Jewish people in all Hitler-rule lands, and it is indisputable that as many as two million civilian Jews have been slain. I have had cables and underground advices for some months, telling of these things. I succeeded, together with the heads of other Jewish or- ganizations, in keeping these out of the press and have been in constant communication with the State Department, particularly Under Secretary Welles. The State Department has now received what it believes to be confirmation of these unspeakable horrors and has approved of my giving the facts to the press. The organizations banded together in the Conference of which I am Chairman, feel that they wish to present to you a memorandum on this situa- tion, so terrible that this day is being observed as a day of mourning and fasting throughout the Jewish world. We hope above all that you will speak a word which may bring solace and hope to millions of Jews who mourn, and be an expression of the conscience of the American people. I had gathered from the State Department that you were prepared to receive a small delegation, which would include representatives of the American x Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress the B'nai B'rith. It would be gravely misunderstood if, despite your overwhelming preoccupation, you x did not make it possible to receive our delegation and to utter what I am sure will be your heartening and consoling reply. As your old friend, I beg you will somehow arrange to do this. Ever yours, SSW:S 34 PRESIDENT