The article ends by referring to the Roosevelt Administration’s refusal to allow Jews fleeing the Nazis to find refuge in the US. The voyage of the “St. Louis” and the ultimate murder by the Nazis of some of its refugee passengers still haunts. In fact some of the current US asylum laws and the concept of a “well founded fear of persecution” were inspired by the voyage of the “St. Louis” and the fate of its passengers. ( that is not to say that the asylum laws and the concept of “well founded fear” has not and is not being currently abused.) However have a question to someone who may know. Why didn’t the “St. Louis” dock in the Dominican Republic which at the time was welcoming Jewsish refugees from Europe especially Germany?
Never heard of a request to dock in the Dominican Republic, but they did attempt to dock in Cuba, who was pressured by the Roosevelt administration to deny the attempt. A couple dozen who had valid visas were disembarked in Havana. But it was too close to the US to have a wave of Jews establishing a bridgehead.