867n.01/14½
The Secretary of State to
President Wilson
Washington,
February 28, 1918
.
My Dear Mr. President: The Zionist Committee,
through its secretary, has sent me the letter which I attach hereto.
This Committee makes two requests:
1—That passports be issued to representatives of the Committee to proceed
to Palestine via London or Paris as a part of a Commission composed of
representatives of the Zionist organization of England which is acting
with the sanction of the British Government.
[Page 108]
2—That this Department recognize a Zionist Medical Unit composed of from
thirty-five to forty-five persons. This Unit is to proceed to Palestine
to render service to the civilian population there.
I hesitate to accede to these requests in view of the following
considerations:
1—This Government has never accepted Mr. Balfour’s pronouncement with
reference to the future of Palestine74 and has expressly refrained from accrediting consular
agents to that territory, in which action the British Government has
entirely acquiesced.
2—This Government is not at war with Turkey.
3—A possible embarrassment may arise on account of the presence in
Palestine of individuals, even though their errand is one of mercy,
sponsored by an organization having distinctly political aims.
I should be grateful to you if you would advise me of your views with
reference to this communication from the Zionist Committee.75
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
The Secretary of the Provisional Executive
Committee for General Zionist Affairs (De Haas) to the Secretary of State
Washington,
February 27, 1918
.
Sir: On behalf of the Zionist
organization, I earnestly request you to authorize the issuance of
passports to E. W. Lewin-Epstein, Mary Fels, and such others as may
be named by my Committee, all being loyal American citizens of
creditable reputation, said passports to be issued to them
personally on their appearing before the designated official, so as
to enable them to proceed to Palestine, via London or Paris.
Together, the persons named and to be named will go as part of a
Commission representing our Zionist organization, joining a Mission
composed of representatives of the Zionist organizations of England
and other countries, which together will form a Mission proceeding
with the sanction of the British Government under the direction of
Dr. Weitzmann to Palestine. The objects of the Mission are outlined
in a cable, signed Weitzman Frankfurter, copy of which I
attach.75a
Medical Unit
Further in connection with the proposed sending of a Zionist medical
unit to Palestine, which matter has been before the Department in
various forms, I now beg, in the first place, to call your attention
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to the following
message from the British Embassy, and earnestly request the State
Department to recognize our unit, which will comprise from
thirty-five to forty-five persons, in the form requested by the
British authorities, which I understand from representatives of the
British Embassy, is in accord with the precedent established by the
British Government in the recognition of various units that have
rendered service during the war for special purposes. Under the
convention proclaimed February 28, 1910,76 between the United States and other powers for the
adaptation of the principles of the Geneva Convention, it is
necessary that the unit receive an official commission from the
United States, and that the Government notify the names of the
personnel to the Central Powers.
I may add that the British authorities clearly understand that our
unit is to render much needed service to the civilian population in
Palestine, which is at present practically denuded of doctors and
nurses required for the normal purposes of any country. May I ask,
upon such recognition being accorded to us, the Department authorize
the issuance of the passports in the usual way and enable us to
purchase medical supplies, etc. The message from the British
Government reads:
“Mr. Jacob de Haas,
Secretary of Zionist Committee, 44 East 23rd Street, New
York.
We are informed that there will be no objection to despatch of
Zionist Medical Unit to Palestine as one of the American Medical
Units provided American Government will recognize it and will in
accordance with Geneva convention notify enemy of their
recognition.
Reading.”
Very truly yours,
