Argentina's Early Priorities in the European War: Compliance, Antisemitism, And Trade Concerns in the Response to the German Invasion of the Netherlands

Abstract

AbstractIn mid-1940, Argentina joined other Latin American nations in protesting the German attack on the Low Countries. Yet, concerns over the violation of a neutral country's sovereignty were tempered by conciliatory elements in the Argentine response to the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. In their denial of a request for asylum on the part of Jewish refugees, Argentine leaders dismissed the brutality of the Nazi incursion. The decision on refugees represents an important case study, within a longer wartime history of Argentine policy on European Jews. Anti-Semitism proved significant in denying Jews from the Netherlands entry to Argentina. The case also reflected Argentina's early priorities during the Second World War and the definition of strict Argentine diplomatic neutrality; preoccupied with commercial losses in Europe stemming from the conflict, Argentine authorities charted a policy of compliance with the demands of belligerent states, rejecting moral, diplomatic, and strategic positions that ...