Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume III

867n.404Wailing Wall/240: Telegram

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

Jerusalem, September 25, 1929—1 p.m.
[Received September 25—10:55 a.m.]

Reference my September 19, 7 p.m.; Department’s September 20, 6 p.m.; my September 21, 5 p.m.⁵⁰

The High Commissioner sent to me today, for my personal information, copy of telegram addressed to the Palestine Government, Palestine-Zionist Executive, and Palestine-Arab Executive, from the Palestine Commission of Inquiry. The salient points of the telegram are as follows:

1. The terms of reference to the Commission are: “To inquire into the immediate causes which led to the recent outbreak in Palestine, and to make recommendations as to the steps necessary to avoid the [a] recurrence.”

2. The inquiry is not a public judicial proceeding and therefore inexpedient to permit counsel for purposes of addressing the Commission or of cross-examining witnesses.

3. Commissioners consider it desirable, however, that the principal parties interested be represented when witnesses are examined and say that it would be of greater assistance to the Commission if some person could be appointed on behalf of the interested parties to collect and present such evidence as those parties may desire to submit to the Commission and to make such representations as they may desire to offer as to the course of the inquiry.

4. The Commissioners expect to arrive at Jerusalem on October 10th.

Knabenshue

50. Telegram of September 21 not printed.