Contemporary Documents Supplement to the “Jewish Daily Bulletin”

Text Made Public in Jerusalem (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Official Gazette of the Palestine Government made public the full text of the Convention between His Britannic Majesty and the President of the United States of America with respect to the rights of the Government and nationals of the United States in Palestine. The ratifications were exchanged in London on December 3rd, 1925, and the convention is in operation from that date. Following repetition in the Convention of the full text of the League of Nations Mandate to Great Britain in Palestine, the Convention continues as follows:

Article 1. Subject to the provisions of the present convention the United States consents to the administration of Palestine by His Britannic Majesty, pursuant to the mandate recited above.

Article 2. The United States and its nationals shall have and enjoy all the rights and benefits secured under the terms of the mandate to members of the League of Nations and their nationals, notwithstanding the fact that the United States is not a member of the League of Nations.

Article 3. Vested American property rights in the mandated territory shall be respected and in no way impaired.

Article 4. A duplicate of the annual report to be made by the Mandatory under Article 24 of the mandate shall be furnished to the United States.

Article 5. Subject to the provisions of any local laws for the maintenance of public order and public morals, the nationals of the United States will be permitted to establish and maintain educational, philauthropic and religious institutions in the mandated territory, to receive voluntary applicants and to teach in the English language.

Article 6. The extradition treaties and conventions which are, or may be, in force between the United States and Great Britain, and the provisions of any treaties which are, or may be, in force between the two countries which relate to extradition or consular right shall apply to the mandated territory.

Article 7. Nothing contained in the present convention shall be affected by any modification which may be made in the terms of the mandate, as recited above, unless such modification shall have been assented to by the United States.

Article 8. The present convention shall be ratified in accordance with the respective constitutional methods of the High Contracting Parties. The ratifications shall be exchanged in London as soon as practicable. The present convention shall take effect on the date of the exchange of ratifications.

In witness whercof, the undersigned have signed the present convention, and have thereunto affixed their seals.

Done in duplicate at London, this 3rd day of December, 1925.

(L.S.) AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN.

(L.S) FRANK B. KELLOGG

TWELVE GOVERNORS ISSUE STATE. MENTS ON MENACE OF INTOLERANCE IN AMERICA

The opinions of the governors of twelve states in the Union on the question of the menace of intolerance in the United States, the subject of discussion at a public forum arranged by the "Jewish Tribune" held recently in New York City, were expressed in statements made public.

The governors who issued the statements were Governor Franklin S. Billings of Vermont, Governor A. T. Hannett of New Mexico, Governor Thomas G. Mcleod of South Carolina, Governor J. C. Scrugham of Nevada, Governor Sam A. Baker of Missouri, Governor Theodore Christianson of Minnesota, Governor John Hammill of Jowa, Governor C. C. Moore of Idaho, Governor Clifford Walker of Georgia, Governor Tom J. Terral of Arkansas, Governor John J. Blain of Wisconsin, Governor Ralph O. Brewster of Maine. The statements read:

"I can assure you that I am a great believer in our Constitution, that all races and creeds should have equal rights and that Protestants, Catholics and Jews should discuss ways and means of promoting better understanding among Americans. We should all stand strongly for the Consititution and the laws of the United States as well as those of the States. I feel sure that you will agree with me in this and if all would do this it would certainly put aside all prejudice," (Signed) Franklin S. Billings, Governor of Vermont.

"There has been some racial and religious prejudice agitated in New Mexico during the past few years much the same as has been agitated in other parts of the United States. In my judgment it is subsiding rather than growing in this section of the country.

"It is difficult for me to understand racial or religious bigotry or how anyone familiar with the history of this Republic can fall a victim to the propaganda of race agitators and religious bigots.

"The original thirteen colonies were composed almost entirely of people who left Europe to establish homes where they might enjoy religious liberty; and after the Revolutionary War when they set about to frame their fundamental law the bitter experience that they had undergone in Europe moved them, without regard to their religious views, to write into the Constitution of the United States a perpetual guarantee of religious liberty and the wisdom of their action in so doing has never been successfully questioned.

"I sometimes think that the reason that bigotry and race hatred flares up sporadically in this country is due to the fact that we are now so far away from the painful results of indulging in intolerance that there is always a percentage of people who do not realize how dangerous to the peace and welfare of the nation religious strife and racial hatred may become." (Signed) A. T. Hannett, Governor of New Mexico.

"Differences of opinion as to religion have existed, and will perhaps for all time continue to exist both in this country and elsewhere. The expression of the reason for faith that is in one is always proper. We should have respect for the faith of others. It is my observation that controversies are never one-sided: If the controversy becomes offensive, it is usually due to the bigotry of prejudice that is expressed on both sides of the controversy. It does seem that it would be entirely possible for each of us to cultivate a spirit of tolerance for the views of others without a sacrifice of our own principles. In order to bring about such a spirit the individual however usually has quite a good deal of work on self to do by the processes of elimination before he is in a proper spirit to criticize or change those differing in opinion. I have not observed any increase of either religious or racial bigotry. There are many things most of us hold in common. Faith in God, for instance is a possession and right of both Jew and Gentile. This neither one can sacrifice or lose.

"Mental liberty- however, can no more be safely misconstrued and applied, in license, than can political liberty. Proper distinction, proper appreciation of our history and traditions will. I believe express itself in an Americanism broad enough to protect people of any honest faith, (Signed) Thomas G. Meleod of South Carolina.

"I think it is the opinion of all prominent Americans of unimpeachable partiotism that there is nothing in any race or religion which would or should disquality any one from the opportunity of being called a good American.

"As to the rise or fall of bigotry or intolerance in this state, there never has been any particular manifestation of such traits here. There seems to be a very fair and ca? spirit existing between all notable citicens, frrespective of any fancied differences in Americanism which some profess to find in different races and different creeds," (Signed) J. C. Serugiham. Governor of Nevada.

"My recerd in this state shows how I feel regarding the spirit of understanding among Americans regardless of race or creed. I stand for the individual regardless of any organization, religious or otherwise to which he may belong. I believe that there is very Ilitie evidence of racial bigorry here in Missouri" (Signed) Sam A. Baker. Governor of Missouri.

"I firmly ? than there is less misunderstanding and barred between need and creeds now than ? or ? years ago.

"Modern ? which facilirate communication such as the automaticle, the radio the telephone and the daily ? are doing much to destroy racial antiyathy and prejudice. As people get to know each other and understand each other, racial barred and religious intolerance disappear." (Signed) The? Christianson. Governor of Min?.

"I am a firm believer in tolerance and the presimation of principles guaranteed in the constitutions of the states and of the United States." (Signed) Jahn Ha?. Gavernor of lowa.

It is my beliefs that the great majority of American eithers responed to the principles of justice and fair plays that they are willing to ? this country was established for and its healthy and happy continuance depends upon, religious and racial freedom. It is to be deeply regretted that occasionally a wave of religious or racial bigotry sweeps this country carrying with it suspicions and rash judgments that set friends and neighbors against each other, causing crimes of every degree as the outcome of dissensions and hatred.

"As a remedy, perhaps a more frequent and sincere application of "The Golden Rule" by every one of us would tend to make the discovery that our fellow citizens of whatever creed or race are just as eager and determined as are we to uphold the traditions, Constitution and laws of this country; that, with a true understanding of each other’s motives, we are all striving toward the same end-the protection and betterment of the United States of America." (Signed) C. C. Moore, Governor of Idaho.

"I am pleased to express my appreciation of the growing spirit of better understanding in the different races and creeds as expressed by the broadminded and patriotic citizens of America. For selfish and political reasons much has been said in the past of a bitter spirit against alleged prejudice and bigotry but the average American citizen, in the absence of political religious agitation, is perfectly willing for every other citizen to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

"I feel sure that this spirit is growing and that the people of America are to be congratulated. There should ever be a line of demarkation between the political religious agitator and the sincere believer in religious freedom. No sympathy should be extended to and religious organization which unites solilly and votes as one man but which continually announces any other set of men who exercise the some privilege. The hope of America is a broadminded, sympathetic, fraternal feeling among all classes all races and all creeds. Personally, a number of my best neighbors, friends, clients and supporters have been Hebrews. It always gives me the greatest pleasure to commend the public spirit and patriotism manifested by this class of citizens and I wish you well in your efforts to express the spirit of sincere religious tolerance and friendly relatious between the creeds and races." (Signed) Clifford Walker, Governor of Georgia.

"There is a very good spirit of understanding between the people of Arkansas regardless of race, creed or religion. Arkansas probably has a greater percentage of pure American blood than any other state in the Union. This, of course, would account for the lack of friction between the citizens.

"I am enclosing a copy of a proclamation which I issued last year setting aside a week to be observed as ‘Better Understanding Week.’ This is done each year in Arkansas." (Signed) Tom J. Terral, Governor of Arkansas.

"With reference to the attitude of our people on racial and religious matters, beg to advise you that Wisconsin has always stood for freedom and equal opportunity and that men should not be judged by race creed or color. We have been singularly free from racial and religious prejudices and antagonisms.

"Organizations of intolerance and bigotry have found no fertile soil in Wisconsin in the last five years. While there are those who would engender racial and religious prejudices and antagonisms, they are few and inconsequential as compared with the great army of people who believe that men and women have the right to worship their God according to the dictates of their own conscience and in the language of their choice.

"The population of Wisconsin is largely made up of men and women and their children coming from many races and nationalities during the period of our statehood and they as well as those of Colonial heredity have amalgamated into a citizenship that has promoted and fostered the great democracy that we have." (Signed) John J. Blaine, Governor of Wisconsin.

"Tolerance calls for the maximum elimination of racial and religious lines in the various activities of our national life. In this era, the single most important influence in the life of the child outside the home is the educational system of which he is a part. We are almost ready to say that the one that forms the intellect is the one that rules the world. Is there not grave danger of losing that broad understanding of our neighbor’s viewpoint essential to tolerance, if the second most important influence in the formative life of our nation is based upon religious or racial concerns alone? If substantially general attendance upon this our American public system is required for the unification of our diverse racial elements, then there is occasion for serious concern." (Signed) Ralph O. Brewster, Governor of Maine.