867n.404Wailing Wall/229: Telegram
The Consul General at Jerusalem (Knabenshue) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 20—1:02 a.m.]
At the request of Felix Warburg and Bernard Flexner of New York, through Mr. Mohl, their Jerusalem representative, I had informal conversation with the High Commissioner today in order to ascertain his opinion as to whether it would be permissible for a prominent American lawyer to appear before the forthcoming British Commission of Inquiry as counsel for Jewish-American interests, it being represented to me that arrangements had already been made for counsel for Jewish-British interests to appear before the Commission. The High Commissioner informed me that this was a matter entirely for the decision of the Commission in accordance with any instructions that might be given to it by the Colonial Office in London and that the American parties interested would have to make appropriate representations to the Colonial Office. The High Commissioner is informing the Colonial Office of our personal informal conversation.
I informed Mohl that I would report the result of my conversation to the Department and that Flexner and Warburg would have to apply to the Department. It is my understanding that these gentlemen for some unknown reason wish it to appear that my conversation with the High Commissioner was upon my own initiative and not [at] their instigation and that they are going to Washington tomorrow to discuss this and other relative matters with the [Page 58] Secretary of State personally. I would respectfully suggest that they be informed only of the High Commissioner’s reply to me and not the rest of this message.
So many American Jews have insisted to me upon American representation at the forthcoming inquiry that it would probably allay much Jewish-American criticism here and in the United States against what they might claim to be our Government’s indifference if the Warburg-Flexner proposal could be arranged. If counsel is not permitted to appear before the Commission, doubtless there would be no objection to the presence in Jerusalem of an American attorney to assist in the preparation of the Jewish case. On the other hand it would appear to be inadvisable for the United States to make official representations in this matter to the British Government, for such action would undoubtedly create resentment against us here and in other Moslem countries.
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