867n.404Wailing Wall/5: Telegram

The Consul General at Jerusalem (Knabenshue) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

During the past 24 hours, a serious situation has been developed by Moslem attacks on Jews. The police are entirely inadequate, though they have been augmented by armed civilian volunteers, and the Government here is losing control of the situation. There is no confirmation yet of rumors regarding deaths of American citizens, but all the hospitals are filled to capacity with casualties and Jewish refugees are fleeing to the city from Jerusalem’s outlying districts.

Thirty-three American Jews, mostly women and children, have come to the consulate general for shelter and have requested asylum until it is safe to return to their homes.

This morning the consular corps formulated demands for presentation by the dean of the consular body to the British Acting High Commissioner as follows:

(1)
Adequate protection of foreign nationals.
(2)
Protection of consulates.
(3)
Police passes to be provided consular personnel, since martial law has been declared.
(4)
Resumption of consular telephonic service, which has been suspended for all governmental offices.

The second, third, and fourth demands have been granted, with the assurance added that the situation will be under control by tonight. Officials privately feel, however, that tonight may be critical, followed by improvement tomorrow.

Responding to my request for aid to provide for the refugees at present in the consulate general, the Government’s reply was that it could do nothing and would not assure me of their safety if they [Page 48] returned to their homes, and it was stated merely that two armored cars are on patrol in their particular part of the city. I shall keep the refugees at the consulate general pending clarification of the situation.

It is my opinion that the Moslem attacks were precipitated by provocative acts of the Jews and that disturbances throughout the whole country will rapidly become general and brigandage will become rife if adequate forces are not rushed here from Egypt. I request a telegraphic acknowledgment.

Knabenshue