The Colonial Office announced today that Field Marshal Viscount Gort has been appointed High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan, succeeding Sir Harold MacMichael. He is governor and commander-in-chief in Malta.
Viscount Gort, who becomes the sixth High Commissioner since Britain assumed the mandate over Palestine, was Chief of the Imperial General Staff at the outbreak of the war and later commanded British troops in France until Dunkerque. He was governor of Gibraltar before being sent to Malta. As chief of the general staff he visited Palestine during the Arab riots in the winter of 1939.
MacMichael became High Commissioner in February 1938 and his term of office was to have expired in 1943, but was extended twice. Before succeeding Sir Arthur Wauchope as High Commissioner, he was governor of Tanganyika Territory.
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