867N.01/1542b
Memorandum by President Roosevelt to the
Secretary of State and the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Washington, May 10, 1939.
I still believe that any announcement about Palestine at this time by
the British Government is a mistake, and I think we should tell them
that.
What can I say to Justice Brandeis?
F[ranklin] D. R[oosevelt]
[Page 749]
[Enclosure]
Mr. Louis D.
Brandeis to President Roosevelt
Dear Mr. President: Herewith I enclose
Dr. Weizmann’s cable to you of the 8th.
Cordially,
[Subenclosure—Telegram]
The President of the Jewish Agency for
Palestine (Weizmann) to Mr.
Louis D.
Brandeis
Would request Brandeis transmit following message from myself to
President “Understand British Government will next Monday
publish statement policy embodying liquidation policy Jewish
national home inaugurated by Balfour Declaration issued by
British Government during late war with active support of
President Wilson. Jews of Palestine hold this breach of
international trust deprives Government every basis legality and
reduces it to purely coercive agency which type bound resist
with every resource at their disposal. In the interest of the
peace of Holy Land and the Salvation of a homeless people
reduced by anti-semitic persecution to desperate plight appeal
to you as successor of President jointly responsible with Lord
Balfour adoption of national home policy to use your good
offices with British Government to abstain from breach of solemn
trust which bound produce catastrophe Palestine and completely
undermine all confidence in international pledges given small
nations. Chaim Weizmann President Jewish Agency for
Palestine.[”]
