Establishment of a National Home in Palestine HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON H.CON. RES. 52 EXPRESSING SATISFACTION AT THE RE-CREATION OF PALESTINE AS THE NATIONAL HOME OF THE JEWISH RACE APRIL 18, 19, 20, AND 21, 1922 Transcript compiled by Subcommittee of the House Committee MESSRS. HAMILTON FISH, JR., CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIXTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION. JOHN JACOB ROGERS, Massachusetts. HENRY ALLEN COOPER, Wisconsin. BENJAMIN L. FAIRCHILD, New York. THEODORE HUKRIEDE, Missouri. II J. CHARLES LINTHICUM, Maryland. W. BOURKE COCKRAN, New York. EDMUND F. ERK. Clerk. FEB 19 1924 CONTENTS. Mr. Edward Bliss Reed, of New Haven, Conn. Draft of the mandate for Palestine as submitted by Mr. Balfour on De- cember 7, 1920, to the secretariat general of the League of Nations____ ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL HOME IN PALESTINE. COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, Tuesday, April 18, 1922. The committee this day met, Hon. Stephen G. Porter (chairman), presiding. The committee had under consideration House Concurrent Resolution 52, which reads as follows: [House Concurrent Resolution 52, Sixty-seventh Congress, second session.] Whereas the Jewish people have for many centuries believed in and yearned for the rebuilding of their ancient homeland; and Whereas owing to the outcome of the World War and their part therein the Jewish people, under definite and adequate international guaranties are to be enabled, with due regard to the rights of all elements of the population of Palestine and to the sanctity of its holy places, to re-create and reorganize a national home in the land of their fathers: Therefore be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress of the United States hereby expresses its profound satisfaction in that outcome of the victorious war which promises the building up of a new and beneficent life in Palestine, rejoices in this act of historic justice about to be consummated, and on behalf of the American people commends an undertaking which will do honor to Christendom and give to the House of Israel its long-denied opportunity to reestablish a fruitful Jewish life and culture in the ancient Jewish land. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. The committee was called for the purpose of considering House Concurrent Resolution No. 52, introduced by Mr. Fish. Mr. FISH. Mr. Chairman, I just want to make a brief statement. This resolution has probably more significance and importance actually and historically than most of us realize. The Jewish people all over the world are interested in the establishment of a national home in Palestine, and our allies in the war, England, France, and Italy, have all gone on record in favor of such a project. I have asked a very few gentlemen representing the Zionist organization of America to come here to-day and express their views and those of their organization and to answer any questions that the committee might desire to ask. For the information of the committee Senator Lodge has also introduced a resolution in the Senate to the same effect, but not in exactly the same words. I have talked to the Senator and he said there would not be any conflict between the two resolutions. It was agreed after our discussion that both resolutions should take their course. What I am most desirous of is the immediate consideration of this resolution and either having it voted up or down in the session to-day. We have, as you know, had many resolutions come before our committee in times past, and we have had many large gatherings here in support and in opposition to sundry resolutions, but sometimes it happens that resolutions, after the hearings, are laid to rest. I most earnestly request the committee to consider this important resolution on its merit, and after listening to the speakers, to either vote the resolution up or down in to-day's session. The CHAIRMAN. That would not be practicable, because there are a number of people who desire to be heard in this matter. We can do that on Thursday, if satisfactory. I promised to give some people a hearing on Thursday. Mr. FISH. If that is the case, and if we can have a vote as soon as Thursday, it will be perfectly satisfactory to me, especially if there is any opposition to the resolution. 1 |