Chancellor Promises to Bring About Peace and Prosperity in Palestine During 1930

The promise to do all in his power to bring about peace and prosperity in Palestine during this coming year, was expressed by Sir John Chancellor, High Commissioner of Palestine, in acknowledging a New Year’s greeting sent to him by Nathan Straus, venerable American-Jewish philanthropist, Mr. Straus, in his cablegram to the High Commissioner, had expressed the hope that Arab agitators will not succeed in influencing Great Britain to go back on its mandatory obligations in Palestine. Sir John’s answer reads:

“Please accept my warmest thanks for your good wishes for the New Year, which I cordially reciprocate. I trust that 1930 may bring Palestine peace and prosperity. I shall spare no effort to bring that about.”

In his message to the High Commissioner, Mr. Straus said:

“Accept my best wishes for a happy new year. May the tragic events which took place in the Holy Land in your absence last summer never recur. May peace and prosperity prevail in Palestine under the British Mandate and in the spirit of the historic Balfour Declaration.

“I was heartbroken when my health center, which was established for the benefit of Palestine inhabitants regardless of race or creed, was first opened to admit the Jewish victims of the misguided and bigoted Arabs, for whose people I have done so much. I feel sure that the Arab agitators who are inciting to violence will not succeed in affecting Great Britain’s determination to fulfill its mandatory obligations based on the Balfour Declaration, nor will they succeed in interrupting the efforts of the Jewish people to upbuild peacefully the promised land by hard work and undiminished idealism.”

Mr. Straus has also sent a New Year’s greeting to Lord Balfour, in which he thanks the latter “for the splendid, encouraging stand you have taken regarding Great Britain’s obligations as mandatory power in Palestine, based upon the historic declaration which a grateful Jewry will never forget.”