Anthony Eden
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Foreign Secretary · United Kingdom
On the regime page: Churchill wartime government
7 quotes, oldest first. Filter with other speakers.
Content note: Concerns the mass killing of Jews in Europe. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“Yes, Sir, I regret to have to inform the House that reliable reports have recently reached His Majesty's Government regarding the barbarous and inhuman treatment to which Jews are being subjected in. German-occupied Europe. They Have in particular received a note from the Polish Government, which was also communicated to other United Nations and which has received wide publicity in the Press. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have as a result been in consultation with the United States and Soviet Governments and with the other Allied Governments directly concerned, and I should like to take this opportunity to communicate to the House the text of the following declaration which is being made public to-day at this hour in London, Moscow and Washington:”
Replying to a Private Notice question from Sydney Silverman MP, Eden told the House of reliable reports of the treatment of Jews in German-occupied Europe and of a Polish Government note, before reading an agreed declaration of the Allied governments.
House of Commons, statement by Private Notice question, 17 December 1942, HC Deb vol. 385, cc2082-2083 Source
Content note: Concerns the mass killing of Jews in Europe. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“The attention of the Governments of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxemberg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Yugoslavia, and of the French National Committee has been drawn to numerous reports from Europe that the German authorities, not content with denying to persons of Jewish race in all the territories over which their barbarous rule has been extended the most elementary human rights, are now carrying into effect Hitler's oft repeated intention to exterminate the Jewish people in Europe. From all the occupied countries Jews are being transported, in conditions of appalling horror and brutality, to Eastern Europe. In Poland, which has been made the principal Nazi slaughterhouse, the ghettoes established by the German invaders are being systematically emptied of all Jews except a few highly skilled workers required for war industries. None of those taken away are ever heard of again. The able-bodied are slowly worked to death in labour camps. The infirm are left to die of exposure and starvation or are deliberately massacred in mass executions. The number of victims of these bloody cruelties is reckoned in many hundreds of thousands of entirely innocent men, women and children.
The above mentioned Governments and the French National Committee condemn in the strongest possible terms this bestial policy of cold-blooded extermination. They declare that such events can only strengthen the resolve of all freedom loving peoples to overthrow the barbarous Hitlerite tyranny. They re-affirm their solemn resolution to ensure that those responsible for these crimes shall not escape retribution, and to press on with the necessary practical measures to this end.”Text of the declaration issued the same day in London, Moscow and Washington by eleven governments and the French National Committee, read to the House by Eden. The quoted text is the joint declaration, not Eden's own composition.
House of Commons, statement by Private Notice question, 17 December 1942, HC Deb vol. 385, c2083 Source
Content note: Concerns the mass killing of Jews in Europe. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“I would remind my hon. Friends of the statement made in the House by the Deputy Prime Minister on 19th January. The only truly effective means of succouring the tortured Jewish, and, I may add, the other suffering peoples of Europe, lies in an Allied victory. In devoting all their energies and resources to this end, the Governments and peoples of the United Nations are, therefore, seeking to bring relief to all the oppressed. As regards such measures of relief and rescue as may be immediately practicable, the House will recall the proposals announced by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies in respect of Palestine. These will be put into operation as rapidly as facilities can be arranged. In addition to this a considerable number of refugees of Allied nationalities have arrived and continue to arrive in this country. As regards international action, I am not yet able to say when I shall be in a position to make a statement. I do not think that Dr. Nansen's appointment by the League of Nations, which was made some considerable time after the last war, affords any useful precedent for dealing with the difficulties experienced in war-time.”
Reply to four questions on rescue of Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, including a proposal for an international appointment on the model of Fridtjof Nansen.
House of Commons, oral answers, 24 February 1943, HC Deb vol. 387, c144 Source
Content note: Concerns anti-Jewish legislation. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“I do not think I can go as fas as my Noble Friend. What I would say is that there has been a relaxation of several of the disabilities, but I cannot say that there has been a total removal of them. I would like to see that total removal.”
Questioned on whether Vichy-era anti-Jewish disabilities still applied to Jews in Allied-held North Africa, Eden answered a supplementary from Earl Winterton MP.
House of Commons, oral answers, 3 March 1943, HC Deb vol. 387, c524 Source
“In view of developments in Italy and the possibility that Mussolini and other prominent Fascists and persons guilty of war crimes may attempt to take refuge in neutral territory, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom feel obliged to call upon all neutral countries to refuse asylum to any such persons; and to declare that they will regard any shelter, assistance or protection given to such persons as a violation of the principles for which the United Nations are fighting and which they are determined to carry into effect by every means in their power.”
Eden read the text of a communication sent to neutral governments following developments in Italy, agreed with the United States and Soviet governments, asking them to refuse asylum to Mussolini, prominent Fascists and persons guilty of war crimes.
House of Commons, oral answers, 4 August 1943, HC Deb vol. 391, c2268 Source
Content note: Concerns the mass killing of Jews in Europe. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“As regards the first and second points raised by my hon. Friend, I fear I have no definite information, though there are, I greatly regret to say, strong indications from various reliable sources that the German and Hungarian authorities have already begun these barbarous deportations and that in the course of them many persons have been killed. As regards the third point, there are unfortunately no signs that the repeated declarations made by His Majesty's Government in association with the other United Nations of their intention to punish the instigators and perpetrators of these frightful crimes have moved the German Government and their Hungarian accomplices either to allow the departure of even a small proportion of their victims or to abate the fury of their persecution. The principal hope of terminating this tragic state of affairs must remain the speedy victory of the Allied nations.”
Reply to a Private Notice question from Sydney Silverman MP on mass deportations of Jews from Hungary to Poland.
House of Commons, statement by Private Notice question, 5 July 1944, HC Deb vol. 401, cc1160-1161 Source
Content note: Concerns the mass killing of Jews in Europe. The words are shown as they were said or written. Why
“In this terrible business I would really rather not give figures unless one is absolutely sure, because it is bad enough, God knows, without doing that. We have done all we can and we shall do all we can. I might say that his Holiness the Pope made some representations a little while ago, and the House probably knows that the King of Sweden has already made an appeal. I am bound to say that the action and attitude of the Hungarian Government is one that fills this country with loathing.”
Eden's answer to a supplementary question, which put reported figures of 400,000 deported and 100,000 killed.
House of Commons, statement by Private Notice question, 5 July 1944, HC Deb vol. 401, c1161 Source
Often attributed, not verified
These words circulate under Anthony Eden’s name but could not be traced to a source. They are listed so readers can check them, not as Anthony Eden’s words.
“Any such tremendous scheme would be difficult. [...] Hitler might well take us up on any such offer and there simply are not enough ships and means of transport in the world to handle them.”
Quoted in secondary literature on the Allied response to the Holocaust. The primary US or British record of the March 1943 talks was not located in this pass, so the wording is not published as verified.