Please convey my good wishes to the men and women gathering
in Washington for the National Conference for Palestine which has been
summoned by the United Palestine Appeal. The American people, ever zealous
in the cause of human freedom, have watched with sympathetic interest
the effort of the Jews to renew in Palestine the ties of their ancient
homeland and to reestablish Jewish culture in the place where for centuries
it flourished and whence it was carried to the far corners of the world.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Balfour
Declaration, the keystone of contemporary reconstruction activities
in the Jewish homeland. Those two decades have witnessed a remarkable
exemplification of the vitality and vision of the Jewish pioneers in
Palestine. It should be a source of pride to Jewish citizens of the
United States that they, too, have had a share in this great work of
revival and restoration. It gives me great pleasure to send all who
are participating in your deliberations my hearty felicitations and
warmest personal greetings.