1939 June 4 MS St Louis
Who: 939 Jewish Immigrants fleeing Nazi Europe
What: US President Roosevelt refuses to provide political asylum to Jewish passengers aboard the MS St. Luis and threatens to impose trade sanctions on Cuba and Canada if they were to provide the MS St. Luis safe harbor.
Where: USA, Cuba, Canada
Why: Vehement opposition came from Roosevelt’s Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, and from Southern Democrats — some of whom went so far as to threaten to withhold their support of Roosevelt in the 1940 Presidential election if he allowed any passengers to enter the US.
