Hiram Binghmam IV
(c. 1946)
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A Distinguished
Diplomat
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"He [Bingham] has a
heart of gold.
He does everything he can to help
us, within American law."
Varian Fry
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But No Hero of
the Holocaust nor Friend of the
Jews
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We have been
made aware of a communication (dated March 7,
2005) transmitted by Yad Vashem to the Bingham
family that we believe to be (and to represent)
the final outcome of this complex case. That
communication that is presented in full at the
bottom of this page, represents, in our
considerate view, a fair and balanced assessment
of Harry Bingham's deeds during the darkest hours
of the 20th Century History.
In a
nutshell, Yad Vashem, after considering this
matter for some seven (7) years, rejected Eric Saul's Petition for
awarding Hiram Bingham IV with the "Righteous
Among the Nations" title. Yad Vashem's judgment is
in fact identical to the one encapsulated so
eloquently by the American National Hero of the
Holocaust, Varian Fry --the only
American, to date, to be awarded with the
"Righteous" title.
The reason
for Yad Vashem's rejection of the Righteous title
for Bingham IV can be explained in simple terms as
follows: Bingham IV during his consular activity
in Marseille by not opposing and in fact fully
cooperating with Varian Fry's operation made
Bingham IV a clear sympathizer and a
facilitator, but not a rescuer! And that paramount
distinction is at the crux of understanding this
entire decision rendered by Yad Vashem.
The Honorable
Bingham IV, in most trying times, was doing his
job of issuing visas, in an exemplary manner, to
Jews and non-Jews alike. That, in itself, made him
for sure a distinguished diplomat, but not a hero
for doing admirably his job. Since when does a
person with a "heart of gold" of issuing visas to
Jews and non-Jews alike qualify for a 'hero"
status?
All that
"hero" status is even more remarkable, as
Bingham IV was a deep-rooted antisemite who
later in life went so far as to become a Holocaust
denier and a hater of Jews as revealed in page 5 herein.
Robert Kim
Bingham often compared his dad to Oskar Schindler.
(See, for instance, Mr. Bingham article of
May 24, 1998, published in The Day
newspaper of New London, Connecticut, USA,
entitled Remembering Salem's "Schindler" (Exhibit 04_Schindler, hereto). For
sure the two men, Schindler and Bingham IV, had
one thing in common: they were both womanizers.
But Schindler, unlike Bingham IV, was a
rescuer of Jews and that is WHY Schindler was
awarded with the "Righteous Among the Nations"
title while Bingham IV was not.
In our herein
concurring study to Vad Yashem's rendered opinion,
we stated all along, that the late Hiram "Harry"
Bingham IV was a good man during evil times and
may his goodness be an inspiration and an example
for others to follow in trying times. But his
professionalism and sympathy for Varian Fry's
crusade can never ever be translated into a hero
of the Holocaust which Bingham IV clearly was
not.
May he rest
in peace.
K. K.
Brattman
Managing Editor
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The Holocaust
Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance
Authority
Jerusalem, 7 March,
2005
Dear Mrs. Bingham-Endicott,
The Commission for
the Designation of the Righteous,
after examining all the elements
in this interesting case, wishes
to express its appreciation for
the behavior of your late father,
Hiram Bingham IV, in facilitating
the emigration of Jewish persons
from France, during 1940-41, when
your father served in the U.S.
consulate in Marseilles.
The Commission was
impressed by your father's
positive and friendly disposition
to all who approached him for
obtaining visas to the USA, and
especially to Mr. Varian Fry, and
for his efforts to obtain these
visas through diplomatic channels.
This included facilitating the
exit of Mr. Lion Feuchtwanger and
his wife from France, after a visa
was received for them through the
intervention of Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt, wife of the President.
Yad Vashem wishes to
express its thanks for the
humanitarian disposition of your
father at a time of persecution of
Jews by the Vichy regime in
France. Hiram Bingham's assistance
in this regard stands out by
contrast to certain other
officials who rather acted
suspiciously toward Jewish
refugees wishing to enter the
United States. Please be assured
that your father's positive
behavior, which has been richly
documented, will remain inscribed
in our archives for the benefit of
future generations.
With best wishes to
you and to the other members of
the Bingham family.
Sincerely yours,
s/ ...Yad Vashem
File #10404
P.O.B. 3477, JERUSALEM
91034
TEL. 02-6443400 FAX. 02-6443443
02-6443443
www.yadvashem.org
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Editor's Note: Abigail
Bingham Endicott, daughter of
the late Hiram Bingham IV, acknowledged to us
(in her April 5, 2005, email)
receiving from Yad Vashem the above posted
determination letter and, thanked us for the
kind words that we have placed herein.
Postscript of
May 30, 2006:
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.On May 30, 2006, the
United States Postal Service released
a series of six commemorative stamps
honoring "Distinguished American
Diplomats," among them Hiram
Bingham IV. The six diplomats
were chosen for their contributions to
international relations, not only as
negotiators and administrators, but
also as trailblazers, shapers of
policy, peacemakers, and
humanitarians.
.Bingham IV for
sure was a distinguished diplomat (but
no hero of the Holocaust nor friend of
the Jews) and, as we have noted above,
may he "be an inspiration and an
example for others to follow in trying
times."
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