-“Primarily, the obligation to protect the life, property and liberty of the Jews in Palestine rests upon Great Britain. She assumed that when she took the Mandate of that country. If she is either unwilling or unable to act promptly and decisively in this matter, the United States government should do so at once. We have a greater responsibility upon us to protect the American Jew in person and property in Palestine than American citizens in any other foreign country, because tacitly we invited the Jews to re-establish themselves in Palestine. This government cannot escape the responsibility if it does not exert every bit of its power to make safe the life, liberty and property of the American Jews settled in Palestine. Beyond that, from sentimental reasons, as well as for humanity’s sake, we should protect all of the Jews so settled there.”
SENATOR F. C. WALCOTT (CONNECTICUT), NORFOLK, CONN
-“The sympathy of the civilized world will go out to the Jews of Palestine who are being attacked and persecuted. But this will be useless unless financial assistance can be promptly contributed to relieve the suffering and enough force to keep the Arabs quiet. The force must come from the government which assumed the mandate as part of its responsibility.”
SENATOR DUNCAN U. FLETCHER (FLORIDA), JACKSON, FLA
-“The establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine deserves encouragement. The safety of American citizens in or visiting the Holy Land concerns us greatly. Since the day of Joshua, the people coming from Egypt to rebuild Jerusalem have had a foothold there. One must sympathize with their attachment and sentiments of devotion. The mandate authorities will no doubt increase their efforts and afford adequate protection. I believe their responsibilities and obligations will be met.”
SENATOR WALTER F. GEORGE (GEORGIA), VIENNA, GA
-“Americans are profoundly concerned for the safety of American citizens residing in or visiting the Holy Land.”
SENATOR ARTHUR R. ROBINSON (INDIANA), INDIANAPOLIS, IND
-“The attacks against the Jewish population in Palestine are atrocious and have shocked the civilized world. From present indications Great Britain is complying with the Mandate to the best of her ability and will be equal to her responsibilities.”
SENATOR JAMES E. WATSON (INDIANA). RUSHVILLE, IND
-“I fully concur in the views admirably expressed on the Jewish situation in Palestine by President Hoover. I do not believe, however that a move should be made for other nations to take over the mandate until England either fails or refuses to discharge her obligations there. I am willing to aid in any constitutional way any movement that can be made by our country to restore orderly government in that land.”
SENATOR SMITH W. BROOKHART (IOWA), WASHINGTON, IA
-“I have great sympathy and a deep concern for the safety of American citizens and all Jews in the Holy Land and I sincerely hope speedy measures will be developed for their protection.”
SENATOR DANIEL F. STACK (IOWA), OTTUMWA, IA
-“All civilized peoples have been shocked by the failure of Great Britain to protect the Jewish people in Palestine. Having accepted the Mandatory Power for the protection of this territory, England should immediately bring in sufficient forces to protect the Jewish people. If England fails in its duty other world powers should assume responsibility.”
SENATOR E. S. BROUSSARD (LOUISIANA), NEW IBERIA, LA
-“Great Britain having voluntarily assumed the mandatory power over Palestine, it would seem its clear and bounden duty to have used such force as is necessary to stop the slaughter and massacre of the Jewish population and the wanton destruction of their homes and property by cruel religious fanatics.
“The American Government has a right to demand and should insist upon the protection of American citizens. Moreover humanitarian considerations should move Great Britain more effectively to protect those who have gone to live in Palestine, solely relying upon her for complete protection.”
SENATOR JOS. E. RANSDELL (LOUISIANA), LAKE PROVIDENCE, LA
-“I have been greatly shocked at the awful persecution of Jewish people in the Holy Land. Please convey to them my profound sympathy and assurance that whatever lies in my power to assist in relieving their distress will be promptly undertaken.”
SENATOR DAVID I. WALSH (MASSACHUSETTS). CLINTON, MASS
-“The great Jewish tragedy now being enacted in Palestine is shocking and in every way reprehensible. Prompt action should be taken by Great Britain, backed by our own nation and other powers, in demanding immediate cessation of interference and assurance that those who have already died shall not have died in vain by providing greater strength and security for the Jewish population of Palestine.”
SENATOR B. K. WHEELER (MONTANA) BUTTE, MONT
-“Every believer in religious liberty must feel concern at the outbreak of intolerance and the orgy of persecution that occurred in Palestine. America’s concern for the safety of American citizens who are devoting themselves to the sacred task of regenerating the Holy Land from its centuries’ long lapse into barbarism must not be satisfied with a mere expression of sympathy for the victims of the outrages. Many of our own citizens have been made to feel the woe of fanatical attacks by the Arabs. The British government under a mandate of Palestine must bear the blame for its failure to preserve order and to protect the Jews who, with faith that that mandate would be efficiently exercised, returned to the country of their ancestors. It seems incredible that it should be true, as the cabled reports suggest that the Jews were prevented from arming for their own defense, while no restrictions were placed on their barbarous assailants.
“The outrages ought to be the concern of the whole world. The Palestine movement promised to be one at least of the outstanding gains of civilization resulting from the world war. Whatever the reason for the failure of the Governors to make life and religious freedom safe in Palestine, the world can hardly be convinced in the light of recent events that the sacred trust assumed by Great Britain was not either neglected or betrayed.
“Wretched and discouraging as is the incident, it can mean only a temporary setback. The principle of a Jewish National Home in the Holy Land is too great to be checked by any flaming of the spirit of persecution. The history of the race surmounting thousands of years of proscription is alone a guarantee of the ultimate success of the project. It must be the duty of the whole civilized world to watch and to insure that this shall be the last of the pogroms.”
SENATOR R. B. HOWELL (NEBRASKA), OMAHA, NEB
-“I greatly deplore the tragedy that has befallen the Jewish population in Palestine and they indeed have my sympathy. I trust and am confident that the United States government will take every necessary measure justified by the circumstances and international law for the protection of American citizens in that region.”
SENATOR HAMILTON F. KEAN (NEW JERSEY), ELIZABETH, N. J
-“The Jewish people are builders. They have accomplished many and great things in these United States, and we are proud to number them among our citizenry. That same thought and ambition was imbued in those pioneers who went to Palestine to establish a national home. From the war-torn lands of Europe they went, and from this country as well, to build for themselves a place of their own, seemingly in accordance with a sacred tradition, to again take possession of the country of the ancient Hebrew race. It was a rare and moving thing, this pilgrimage to the home-land. Millions of dollars were
SENATOR LEE S. OVERMAN (NORTH CAROLINA), SALISBURY, N. C
-“I deeply sympathize with the United States citizens and others in the outrageous onslaught by the Arabs. I regard this as one of the greatest tragedies of the age. I trust that the people of Palestine as well as their homes and property may be fully protected and safeguarded and that peace may again reign.”
SENATOR FELIX HEBERT (RHODE ISLAND), WEST WARWICK, R. I
-“As I expressed last week in a letter to the Jewish people of Rhode Island, I deeply regret that members of your faith have suffered so frightfully in the present crisis in Palestine and it is my hope that the Jewish people of this and other countries in calling upon the world powers to take cognizance of the plight of their brethren in the Holy Land may help to bring back peace to Palestine.”
SENATOR COLE L. BLEASE (SOUTH CAROLINA), COLUMBIA, S. C
-“I am opposed to all killings except in defense of life or to prevent serious bodily harm or for the protection of the virtue of womanhood. I will introduce in the Senate this morning a joint resolution requesting the President to submit a proposal to the nations of the earth for the establishment of permanent peace.”
SENATOR TOM CONNALLY (TEXAS), MARLIN, TEX
-“The atrocities and savage cruelties inflicted upon the Jewish population of Palestine by the fanatical Arabs have shocked the civilized world. Great Britain, as the Mandatory Power, is under international obligation to restort order and punish the perpetrators of these terrible outrages. In addition to our humanitarian interests, the presence of American citizens in Palestine makes the situation one of direct and national concern. Massacre and pillage must stop. Civilization demands that it stop.”
SENATOR WILLIAM H. KING (UTAH), SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
-“The Palestineian problem assumes international aspects. Following the World War, the allied and associated nations assumed responsibilities in connection with Syria and Palestine. A Mandatory system was formulated and Great Britain given a Mandate over Palestine, as France was given a Mandate over Syria. In accepting these Mandates both Great Britain and France assumed responsibilities which, as honorable nations, they must discharge.
“The Balfour Declaration relating to Palestine was approved by the League of Nations. It recognized that the Jewish people had a right to aid in redeeming the wastes and deserts in a land that once was the home of millions of the Jewish race. Thousands of Jews from various lands, relying upon the Balfour Declaration, and all of its implications and guarantees, have gone to Palestine where, by their industry and thrift, homes have been built, towns have been founded and waste and desert lands have been made fertile. They are rightfully in the Holy Land, and are entitled to the fullest protection at the hands of the British Government.
“If protection is denied them, in my opinion, the League of Nations is under the obligation to take immediate steps to enforce the letter and the spirit of the Balfour Declaration. I can not believe that the British government will fail in its duty. Order should be restored, protection should be afforded the Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, and reparation made for the wrongs which they have suffered. The atrocities committed by the Arabs and their menacing attitude, call for adequate military forces to cope with every possible contingency.
“The people of the United States approve of the Balfour Declaration. President Wilson gave it his hearty support. American citizens are rightfully in Palestine. Some have been butchered by Moslem fanatics. The American people are concerned in the Palestinian situation, and our government has the right to ask of Great Britain and the League the fullest protection for American citizens who are still in Palestine.”
SENATOR C. C. DILL (WASHINGTON), SPOKANE, WASH
-“I consider the tragedy of the Jewish massacres in Palestine by the Arabs as the most terrible thing that has happened since the World War and I believe our State Department should insist, in the most vigorous language permissible under diplomatic rules, that the English government protect the people there, as it is bound to do under he Mandate of the League of Nations. This kind of murder in the Holy Land should be stopped for all time.”
SENATOR GUY D. GOFF (WEST VIRGINIA), CLARKSBURG, W. VA
-“Needless to say I am deeply concerned for the safety of American citizens of Jewish descent in the Holy Land. The conditions prevailing there are as disheartening to those who stand for a progressive civilization as they are discouraging to peace and order throughout the world. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, you may be assured this matter will receive my most serious consideration and undivided attention.”
SENATOR HENRY D. HATFIELD (WEST VIRGINIA), HUNTINGTON, W. VA
-“Knowing as I do what the Jewish people and the Zionist Organization have accomplished in Palestine during the last decade, I was at first surprised and then strongly indignant at the cruel outrages inflicted against the Jewish people in Palestine in recent days. It is difficult for me to understand the unpreparedness of the British Government to meet this emergency in view of its obligations under the Balfour Declaration.
“The U. S. Government is deeply concerned in the rehabilitation of Palestine by Jews since it officially endorsed the sentiment expressed in the Balfour Declaration. Moreover millions of our citizens are giving of their energy and means toward the upbuilding of the Holy Land. Furthermore, American citizens have been slaughtered and their property destroyed. Therefore, do I feel that this serious situation in Palestine is of concern to all world powers and in particular the United States. I have faith in the honor of the British government that it will meet this crisis speedily and effectively. Should the government fail in its responsibility, then, in my opinion, would it become the duty of other world powers to take over the Mandate of Palestine.”
SENATOR JOHN J. BLAINE (WISCONSIN), BOSCOBEL, WIS
-“As I understand the situation Great Britain has a certain mandate over Palestine or at least some authority arising out of the World War conditions. Just what America can do in the premises under such circumstances is somewhat in doubt. Of course our country has certain obligations toward American citizens quite regardless of the status of mandates or other understandings to which America is not a party. Within such limitations. I will be very glad to do what I can that is properly fitting under the circumstances.”
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.
