[Memorandum of Cecil Roth Concerning the Situation of Italian Jewry in 1939]

Cecil Roth gives a personal analysis on the situation of the Italian Jews under fascist rule and to the state of anti-Semitism towards them. In his eyes it is not as much a popular widely spread sentiment as in Germany, but an anti-Semitism that has been ordered from "above". And even so, anti-Semitism in Italy does not spring from a genuine, latent feeling thereof, but of political necessity and Italian interests, mainly the Axis Berlin-Rom, which demands Italy to pursue anti-Semitic legislation and policies. The varying types of Jewish residents in Italy, genuine Italian Jews and Jewish refugees from other countries are not affected by the fascist policies in the same manner, as many refugees are stateless and have therefore no rights whatsoever in fascist Italy. The Evian Conference has tried to alleviate the hardships for Jewish refugees across Europe, but has failed to reach a comprehensive solution.