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11 Senators Ask United States Representations on Palestine

August 31, 1936
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Eleven United States Senators in a joint telegram today called upon Secretary of State Cordell Hull to make official representations to Great Britain concerning Palestine disorders, the Zionist Organization of America announced.

The Senators are: William E. Borah, Idaho, W. Warren Barbour, New Jersey, Arthur Capper, Kansas, William G. McAdoo, California, David I. Walsh, Massachusetts, Harry F. Byrd, Virginia, Morris Sheppard, Texas, Charles McNary, Oregon, James J. David, Pennsylvania, Sherman Minton, Indiana and Millard E. Tydings, Maryland.

The telegram lauds the “restraint and discipline displayed by the Jewish pioneers in the face of provocation” and requests Secretary Hull to transmit to British Ambassador Lindsay” our hope that nothing will be done at this time to penalize or to hinder the Jewish people whose sole aim has been the reconstruction of a progressive cultured land the benefits of which would accrue to all its citizens.”

Referring to the possibility of suspension of immigration, the message asserts:

“We join in expressing the hope that rumors of the suspension of Jewish immigration into Palestine are without foundation and that no decision will be made that would serve as encouragement to the exponents of terrorism and that would demoralize the men and women who in their daily lives exemplify the spirit of peace and good will.”

The Senators express deep concern over the future of the Holy Land, and voice the hope that Great Britain “will not be deterred by violence” and “will fulfill her obligations as the Mandatory Power for the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine.”

The telegram asserts that the disorders “which have wrecked Palestine during the past four months…have aimed at the destruction of Jewish achievements during the past two decades killing innocent men, women and children, destroying produce and products, shops and farms that have been developed during years of patient toil and devotion.

“The American people, through their Presidents and through the Houses of Congress have on frequent occasions manifested their sympathy with the effort of the Jewish people to re-establish in Palestine a center of safety and security for great numbers of Jews who do not share the freedom and liberty of America but who live in lands of intolerable oppression.

“Having watched with sympathy and approval the steady progress in Palestine of benefit alike to Arabs and Jews we are distressed at the continuation of rioting and destruction that can only bring harm to all inhabitants.”

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