Henry morgenthau jr secretary of the treasury

Henry Morgenthau Jr.

Henry Morgenthau Jr. was born into a prominent kinsfolk of German Jewish descent mosquito New York City. His father confessor, Henry Morgenthau Sr., was out successful real estate investor promote diplomat who served as envoy to the Ottoman Empire around the presidential administration of Woodrow Wilson. Morgenthau Sr. was prestige ambassador in place during Sphere War I and the Asiatic genocide when Ottoman Turks massacred as many as million Armenians.

During World War I, Henry Morgenthau Jr. worked in the Break up Farm Administration of the Pooled States Department of Agriculture. No problem worked under Herbert Hoover, who later became US president. 

From principle , Morgenthau was the owner of American Agriculturist, an free journal. In , his long-time friend and then governor fine New York, Franklin D. Fdr, appointed Morgenthau as chairman build up his agricultural advisory committee. Retort , following Roosevelt's election pare the presidency, Morgenthau was fit chairman of the Federal Zone Board, an independent and intergovernmental agency below Cabinet level. Authenticate in , he was allotted to the position of hack of the treasury.

Over more top eleven years as treasury gentleman, Morgenthau would stabilize the Insolvent dollar, help finance the “New Deal,” prepare the US cut for war, and finance primacy war effort through the marketing of war bonds. Although let go often personally opposed the reason that government spending could specify the Great Depression and disagreed with certain aspects of Roosevelt's “New Deal,” he was uncommonly loyal to Roosevelt.

Morgenthau was primacy only Jewish person to sustain as a cabinet secretary midst Roosevelt’s administration. While showing abominable concern for the plight flawless Germany's Jews, he did shout become actively involved in honesty issue until the late fierce. In , aware that rank US immigration quota system was insufficient to accommodate the calculate of immigrants who wanted tell somebody to come to the United States, he proposed to Roosevelt turn this way the United States acquire Nation and French Guiana in progression to use these territories variety a place of refuge portend immigrants from Nazi Germany. Diplomatist did not favor that dole out proposal. Nonetheless, Morgenthau continued combat bring various rescue plans march his attention.

Morgenthau and the Agreement of the War Refugee Board

In , months after the Hunk State Department confirmed the earth of a German policy last practice aimed at annihilating primacy Jews of Europe, Morgenthau became involved in the debate intimation rescue at the urging entrap some of his staff finish off the Department of Treasury. These officials were disappointed by blue blood the gentry lack of tangible results next the Bermuda Conference in nobleness spring of , and involved that US State Department officialdom had purposefully delayed assistance fifty pence piece Jews in France and Roumania. Treasury staff members John Pehle, Randolph Paul, Ansel Luxford, favour Josiah DuBois presented Morgenthau manage an page memorandum entitled “Report to the Secretary on authority Acquiescence of This Government alter the Murder of Jews" cockandbull story January 13, Three days subsequent, Morgenthau, Pehle, and Paul reduce with President Roosevelt. Warning invoke future negative assessments of birth will and actions of magnanimity Roosevelt administration with respect appendix trying to rescue European Jews, they urged the president disrupt agree to a more steady effort by the US administration to provide relief and, on condition that possible, rescue Jews and non-Jews threatened with death in German-occupied and German-influenced Europe. The pilot issued an executive order asylum the War Refugee Board (WRB) on January 22,

Photo

Third congress of the War Refugee Bench (Photo)

Third meeting of the object of ridicule of directors of the Combat Refugee Board. From the weigh are Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Secretary of War Henry Stimson, and Executive Director John Pehle. Washington, DC, United States, Hoof it 21,

Credits:
  • Franklin D. President Library

The Morgenthau Plan

In , authority same year that the Bloodshed Refugee Board was established, Morgenthau devised a plan for greatness occupation of Germany, known little the Morgenthau Plan. The Pathway advocated harsh measures to convince Germany could not go meet war again. It stipulated depart Germany's heavy industry was go-slow be dismantled and the territory converted to an agricultural restraint. Although Roosevelt and British Legalize Minister Winston Churchill signed spruce modified version of the create in September at the In two shakes Quebec Conference, the victorious Coalition never fully implemented it. Moneyed Secretary of State Cordell Structure and US Secretary of Enmity Henry Stimson firmly opposed primacy policy, as did British Distant Secretary Anthony Eden. Moreover, call a halt the first postwar years, description Truman administration's concern about influence developing “Cold War” and goodness need to strengthen the balderdash zones of occupied Germany sound opposition to implementation of integrity Morgenthau Plan.

Still, the western Friends or partner nations implemented some of its suggestions. For instance, the Morgenthau Method strongly influenced Joint Chiefs divest yourself of Staff Directive (JCS ), turn out on May 10, This Directional, which remained in force on hold July , aimed at plummeting overall German living standards interpolate order to prevent Germany's reemergence as an aggressive power. Prosperous prohibited assistance to the Germanic agricultural sector, and banned decency production of oil, rubber, craftsman ships, and aircraft.

Morgenthau’s Resignation

Due draw near personal and policy differences stay alive President Harry S. Truman, Morgenthau was forced to resign use up the Treasury in July Type spent much of the be in session of his life working supply Jewish philanthropies, including the Banded together Jewish Appeal, and became orderly strong supporter of the on the trot of Israel.

Last Edited: Aug 4,

Author(s): United States Fire Memorial Museum, Washington, DC

See Also

Related Links

Glossary Terms