U.S. Follows Closely Palestine Events, Hoover Tells Jewish Delegation at White House

The outraged voice of American Jewry was heard by the highest official of the United States Government through a large delegation which arrived here Tuesday morning representing the Zionist Organization of America, Hadassah, women’s Zionist organization of America, the American Jewish Congress, the Independent Order Brith Abrabam, the Avukah, student Zionist federation, and other national Jewish bodies. The delegation registered an impassioned, dignified protest against the anti-Jewish atrocities in Palestine, and especially the destruction of American Jewish lives and properties in the Holy Land.

During the day the delegation was received by the Chief Executive, President Hoover, Secretary of State Stimson, Senator William E. Borah, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate, Vice-President Curtis and the British Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard.

A few moments before he received the Jewish delegation, immediately after the Cabinet meeting, where it is understood Secretary Stimson reported on the conference the delegations previously held with him, President Hoover made the following oral statement to the press correspondents at the White House:

“We are, of course, much concerned over the safety of our citizens in Palestine. However, we have been advised that the British Government is taking strong and extensive measures to put down the disturbances and I am hopeful there will be no more loss of life.”

To the Jewish delegation, which President Hoover received immediately afterward, the President is understood to have repeated the foregoing statement in still more emphatic terms and assured the delegation that the United States had already done and remains prepared to do everything within the limits of international propriety toward the protection of American lives and property in Palestine.

The delegation was highly encouraged by the President’s extreme warmth and earnestness and the profound sympathy evinced by him in the tragic description of the situation in Palestine with which he assured the delegation he had already familiarized himself. The President added that the American Government was following with the utmost care each development in Palestine.

The President received the delegation at the White House at 12.30, although the appointment was made upon very short notice, and it is very extraordinary for the President to receive visitors on a meeting day of the Cabinet. By receiving the delegation, although they had already conferred with Secretary of State Stimson, he wished to manifest his own great interest and that of the American Government, in the grave situation in Palestine.

Following his return from the Cabinet meeting for which he departed immediately after receiving the Jewish delegation, Secretary of State Stimson issued the following official statement to the press regarding the conference held at 10 o’clock:

“In replying to the Zionist delegation, the Secretary said that he appreciated the remarks which had been made by the spokesmen of the delegation. Needless to say he wished to express sympathy at the blow sustained by the Jews in Palestine and at the suffering which they were undergoing. The secretary said that he had many old and true friends among those interested in the Zionist movement. His duties, however, were to protect American citizens. He was glad of an opportunity to tell the delegation of the steps which had been taken by the Department with this object in view. Our Consul at Jerusalem had been very active and without waiting for instructions had at once appealed to the local authorities for protection. On Sunday we had instructed the Consul to emphasize the importance of this protection.”

“Yesterday, the Secretary said, he had taken the unusual step of instructing our Embassy at London to urge upon the British Government that the measures taken for the restoration of order in Palestine and for the protection of American lives and property should be of the broadest character. From the reports which we have received it is clear that this is just what the British are doing. Troops have already arrived and many more are arriving momentarily.

The Secretary concluded by saying that we would do all that was possible for the protection of Americans and for ultimate peace.

The delegation representing the Administrative Committee of the Zionist Organization of America was composed of Dr. David J. Kaliski, Emanuel Neumann, Mrs. Robert Szold, Dr. Abram Coralnik, Bernard Rosenblatt, Harry P. Fierst, I. D. Morrison, Herman Bernstein, Mrs. Frieda Ullian and Jonah J. Goldstein.