ALS signed “FF,” one page both sides, 5.25 x 8, Law School of Harvard University letterhead, February 6. Letter to Rabbi Stephen Wise, apparently regarding Senate recognition of Great Britain's authority over Palestine. In part:
“I have rather disquieting news from London about prospects of Peel Com[mission]. It is most important to get some good speeches in Senate by informed Senators and backed by [Senators] Borah and Pittman if possible – hoping that for sake of international relations Gr. Britain won’t substitute Jewish question for the former Irish bitterness in U.S.A.
On reflection I feel we should submit [Secretary of State] Hull’s com[mittee] memorandum to Com[mission] and … circulate it as such, after making concessions called for in Weiz.[mann’s] cable of Dec. 25.” In fine condition, with punch hole to top edge, as well as a rusty paperclip impressions, and a few light creases.
The Peel Commission arrived in Palestine on Nov. 11, 1936, returning to the U.K. on January 18, 1937. In July 1937, the commission published its report, proposing a system of land and population transfers between Arabs and Jews – i.e., the partition of Palestine – while determining that increased Jewish emigration to Palestine would not be economically detrimental to the Arab population. There was strong disagreement among Zionist leaders over the commission’s recommendations, particularly with regard to boundaries: In the U.K., Chaim Weizmann was in favor, while the Zionist Organization of America, led by Rabbi Stephen Wise, opposed it. Arab leaders strongly condemned the commission’s proposals, and more Arab unrest followed.
The commission’s recommendations for partition were ultimately rejected as unfeasible by the British government, which tried to appease the Arab population by greatly limiting Jewish immigration from Europe, with catastrophic results. An important letter from a critical period in Zionist history, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the building of U.S political support for an independent Jewish state. RRAuction COA.
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