I fully appreciate the concern expressed by you in
your letter of October 14, 1938, regarding the Palestine situation. I have on numerous occasions, as you know, expressed my sympathy
in the establishment of a National Home for the Jews in Palestine and,
despite the set-backs caused by the disorders there during the last
few years, I have been heartened by the progress which has been made
and by the remarkable accomplishments of the Jewish settlers in that
country.
As I have had occasion to inform a number of Members
of Congress within the past few days, we have kept constantly before
the British Government, through our Ambassador in London, the interest
which the American people have in Palestine and I have every reason
to believe that that Government is fully cognizant of public opinion
on the matter in this country. We were assured, in the discussions which
took place in London a little more than a year ago, that the British
Government would keep us fully informed of any proposals which it might
make to the Council of the League of Nations for the modification of
the Palestine Mandate.
We expect, therefore, to have the opportunity afforded us of communicating
to the British Government our views with respect to any changes in the
Mandate which may be proposed as a result of the forthcoming report
of the Palestine Partition Commission. I understand, however, that under
the terms of our convention with Great Britain regarding the Palestine
Mandate we are unable to prevent modifications in the Mandate. The most
we can do is to decline to accept as applicable to American interest
any modifications affecting such interests unless we have given our
assent to them.
You may be sure that we shall continue to follow the
situation with the closest attention.
Sincerely yours,