An impression that President Hoover would intercede on behalf of the Jews with regard to Palestine if such a step becomes necessary was gained by William R. Hopkins, former city manager of Cleveland, according to a statement made today by Mr. Hopkins to the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He declared that the president is well-informed on the Palestine situation, the British representatives in Washington having laid before him the British side in the matter and emphasized the political difficulties, hinting at the possibility of giving up the Palestine Mandate.
Mr. Hopkins also announced that President Hoover will send a message to the Zionist Convention which opens here June 29. He had a one hour’s conversation with the president regarding the latter’s attitude towards the present Palestine situation, and conveyed to him a resolution adopted by Cleveland Jews at the recent meeting protesting against the immigration stoppage in Palestine.
Although Mr. Hopkins declined to divulge the full details of his interview with the president, he assured the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Mr. Hoover was very friendly towards the Zionist movement. Mr. Hopkins was accompanied to Washington by Senator Simeon Fess of Ohio who informed the president as to the Jewish attitude on the Palestine situation and sentiment, and expressed the opinion that America must insist on safeguarding the British-American convention concerning Palestine.
Mr. Hopkins went to Washington on the request of Isaac Carmel, secretary of the Zionist Convention committee whose letter of invitation to the president to attend the convention he presented.
No confirmation of this story was obtainable today in Washington.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
