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Palestine: Memoir Files 1-10, 1925-1951

 File
Shelfmark: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/19
Held at the Weston Library

MF 1: 'Palestine 1 - Lord Balfour' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 7-20):

  1. (fols. 1-38) folder containing draft manuscripts and typescripts on the Committee of Imperial Defence, Lord Balfour, and Dogger Bank, and the Mandate for Palestine, n.d.
  2. (fol. 39) rough notes on the pipeline to Haifa, n.d.
  3. (fol. 40) page from The Times Literary Supplement with a letter by Malcolm Thompson on the origin of the Balfour Declaration, 22 Jul 1949
  4. (item 1) copy of The New Judaea, on Lord Balfour, Mar-Apr 1930.

MF 2: 'Palestine 2 - McMahon Correspondence' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 21-41):

  1. (fols. 1-4) rough notes, n.d.
  2. (item 1) Command Paper (Cmd. 3582): Palestine - Statement regarding British Policy ['the White Paper of May 1930'], May 1930.

MF 3: 'Palestine 3 - Representative Government' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 42-57):

  1. (fols. 1-4) despatch from Amery to Sir Herbert Samuel, High Commissioner, on the constitutional position of Palestine, with reference to the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, 18 Jun 1925
  2. (fols. 5-19) despatch from Chancellor to Amery on the question of the establishment of representative government in Palestine. There are three enclosures about a memorandum submitted to Chancellor by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Arab Congress on 3 Jan 1929, requesting that negotiations be inaugurated with the government for the constitution of a Representative Assembly, 15 Jan 1929
  3. (fols. 20-32) despatch from Chancellor to Sidney Webb (later Lord Passfield) on the same question, 12 Jun 1929
  4. (fols. 33-36) aide-mémoire by Luke in connection with the above despatch, giving the gist of the private conversations he had previously had with the Arab Executive, 12 Jun 1929
  5. (fols. 37-42) despatch from Chancellor to Webb, enclosing a statement from the Executive Committee of the Palestine Arab Congress and of the statement made by Chancellor in reply, on the same subject, 18 Jun 1929
  6. (fols. 43-47) draft of the Palestine (Amendment) Order-in-Council about the constitution of a Legislative Council, 1929
  7. (fols. 48-49) note on the Draft Order-in-Council, 1929
  8. (fols. 50-52) extracts from the Jewish press about opposition to any form of Legislative Council, 24 Feb, 27 Mar, 19 Jul 1931
  9. (fols. 53-62) rough notes by Chancellor, n.d.
  10. (fols. 63-64) The Palestine Bulletin: two pages with leading articles referring to the White Paper, 22 and 23 Oct 1930
  11. (item 1) printed copy, annotated by Chancellor, of the Official Report of the House of Lords debate on the proposed Legislative Council for Palestine, 26 Feb 1936.

MF 4: 'Palestine 4 - Defence and Garrison' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 58-81):

  1. (fols. 1-9) part of a despatch [possibly the one referred to in fol. 10, from Lord Plumer to Amery, dated 17 Aug 1927] concerning public security, n.d.
  2. (fol. 10) part of a despatch from Plumer to Amery, on public security, 12 Oct 1927
  3. (fols. 11-27) fourteen telegrams between Chancellor and Passfield on matters concerning the Garrison and the defence of Jewish colonies, 19 Sep 1929-24 Mar 1930
  4. (fols. 28-45) draft of part of Chancellor's despatch to Passfield (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/20, MF 17) concerning defence, with emendations in Chancellor's hand, 17 Jan 1930
  5. (fols. 46-62) rough drafts and notes in Chancellor's hand, n.d.
  6. (fol. 63) page from Time & Tide, with an article by Ivor Thomas referring to Palestine, 28 Jul 1951.

MF 4B: 'Palestine 4B - Defence Scheme, sealed Armouries' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 82-86):

  1. (fols. 1-11) minutes of the Defence Scheme Conference, at which Chancellor outlined the object of the scheme. Officers in charge of the armed forces and the heads of government departments were present (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 3, No. 12 of index), 9 May 1930
  2. (fols. 12-17) minutes of a meeting with Brigadier Logan and Group Captain Murray (Staff of Egypt) and Colonel Roche (O.C. Battalion) concerning the garrison in Palestine (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 4, No. 1 of index), 20 Oct 1930
  3. (fols. 18-31) minutes of a meeting with the Executive of the Jewish Agency (Kisch) and the Vaad Leumi, about sealed armouries in Jewish colonies (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 5, No. 7 of index), 4 Aug 1931
  4. (fols. 32-40) rough draft of part of Chapter 4, and a note, n.d.

MF 5: 'Palestine 5 - Wailing Wall' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 87-110):

  1. (fols. 1-3) letter from Rev. Dr Pereira Mendes, Minister Emeritus, Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, New York, with an offer of help as intermediary, and a draft of Chancellor's reply, 4 and 5 May 1929
  2. (fols. 4-33) twenty-five telegrams between Chancellor and Passfield about the Wailing Wall controversy, including Chancellor's proposals concerning Regulations, and the appointment of a Commission, 4 Sep 1929-27 Apr 1931
  3. (fols. 34-58) memorandum on the Wailing Wall, an enclosure to Chancellor's despatch (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/20, MF 17), 17 Jan 1930
  4. (fols. 59-74) despatch from Chancellor to Passfield with a copy of the Draft Palestine (Western or Wailing Wall) Order in-Council, and a Memorandum by the Acting Attorney-General in explanation of its scope and object, [4?] Apr 1931
  5. (fols. 75-77) copy of the Palestine (Western or Wailing Wall) Order-in-Council 1931, 8 Jun 1931
  6. (fols. 78-84) minutes of two meetings between Chancellor and (1) Rabbis Kook and Sonnenfeld and (2) Rabbi Kook and Ben Zvi, about the playing of football on the Sabbath by young Jewish immigrants (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 5, Nos. 2 and 3 of index), 11 and 12 Jun 1931
  7. (fols. 85-92) note of a meeting with representatives of the Agudath Israel, concerning the Report of the Wailing Wall Commission. (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 5, No. 5 of index), 17 Jun 1931
  8. (fols. 93-126) parts of copies of despatches from Chancellor, with his annotations, and rough notes and drafts, n.d.

MF 6: 'Palestine 6 - Commission of Enquiry 1929' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 111-117):

  1. (fol. 1) note by Chancellor about the contents of the folder, clipped to the cover, n.d.
  2. (fols. 2-8) two telegrams from the Secretary of State about the Commission's conclusions, and referring to Chancellor's recommendations about the terms of the Mandate contained in his despatch of 17 Jan 1930 (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/20, MF 17), 27 and 29 Mar 1930
  3. (fols. 9-19) folder labelled 'Enquiries' containing rough notes, and the draft of a letter to Malcolm MacDonald listing eight points of British policy in Palestine, n.d.
  4. (fols. 20-26) duplicate copy of Chapter 6 of Memoirs, 21 Feb 1951.

MF 7: 'Palestine 7 - White Papers of May and Oct 1930' (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/18, folder 2, fols. 118-133 and MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/20, MF 11, fols. 111-147):

  1. (fols. 1-2) letter from O.G.R. Williams, Colonial Office, about certain papers sent to Chancellor when on leave in London, connected with the draft Statement of Policy, and asking for his comments and suggestions, 28 Aug 1930
  2. (fols. 3-12) Gazette Extraordinary: Palestine-Statement of Policy by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom (Cmd. 3692), and the first and last pages of a second copy, annotated by Chancellor, 24 Oct 1930
  3. (fol. 13) The New Judaea, front page, containing Weizmann's announcement of his resignation as President of the Zionist Organisation and the Jewish Agency, following publication of the Statement of Policy, Oct 1930
  4. (fols. 14-26) minutes of the 10th Situation Conference (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 4, No. 4 of index) about the effects in Palestine of the Statement of Policy, 30 Oct 1930
  5. (fols. 27-36) draft of a letter from Chancellor to Lord Stamfordham, expressing his approval of the Statement of Policy as 'an honest and sincere attempt to do justice to Jews and Arabs alike', and reporting the effects of its publication, 8 Nov 1930
  6. (fols. 37-44) note of a meeting with the Arab Executive about the White Paper, in particular the question of immigration (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 4, No. 5 of index), 8 Nov 1930
  7. (fols. 45-47) notes on a meeting with the Arab Executive (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 4, No. 6 of index), 15 Nov 1930
  8. (fols. 48-52) note of an interview with the Mufti (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 4, No. 7 of index), 8 Dec 1930
  9. (fols. 53-54) letter from Hyamson to Chancellor with a copy of one from himself to the Chairman of the Jewish Agency about a proposed scheme to create a sovereign independent Palestinian state, 17 Nov 1937
  10. (fols. 55-115) drafts, notes, and press cuttings from The Palestine Bulletin, The Observer, and The Sunday Times, between Oct 1930 and Jun 1931. The cuttings are concerned with the White Paper and also the 'Black Letter' from the Prime Minister to Weizmann.

MF 8: 'Palestine 8 - Policy and Enquiries, and Suggestions to H.M.G.':

  1. (fols. 1-11) nine telegrams between Chancellor and Passfield about the political situation following the Disturbances, and an attempt on Bentwich's life, 16 Sep-25 Nov 1929
  2. (fols. 12-20) summary by Chancellor of telegrams between himself and Passfield from 12 Oct 1929 to 29 Nov 1930, n.d.
  3. (fols. 21-64) incomplete typescript of Chancellor's despatch to Passfield (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/20, MF 17), with annotations. Contains 'Summary of Conclusions' (fols. 62-64), which embodies Chancellor's recommendations, with a note added by him beside each of the eleven items stating the eventual outcome, 17 Jan 1930
  4. (fols. 65-89) note by Archer Cust on the changes of attitude of His Majesty's Government in 1929 and 1930 towards the Palestine problem (see MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 4, fols. 5-29), with annotations by Chancellor, Dec 1930
  5. (fols. 90-91) note by Chancellor of an interview with the newly appointed Secretary of State, Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, following Chancellor's retirement from Palestine, 17 Oct 1931
  6. (fols. 92-94) memorandum on Policy in Palestine, addressed by Chancellor to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, 16 Dec 1931
  7. (fols. 95-96) letter from J.F. Huntington, an Inland Revenue official, to Chancellor about his recent experiences in Palestine, 25 Jul 1934
  8. (fols. 97-100) note in Chancellor's hand of 'Suggestions as to future policy in Palestine: Evidence to Royal Commission', 7 Jan 1937
  9. (fols. 101-109) note in Chancellor's hand of 'Answers to questions of Royal Commission', concerning (1) Disarmament of Arabs and Jews, (2) Absorptive capacity of the country, (3) Legislative Council, and (4) Curtailment of alienation of land by Arabs and Jews. There is also a 'Note on Palestine' read to the Commission, 12 Feb 1937
  10. (fols. 110-113) draft of a letter from Chancellor to Sir John Davidson proposing an agreed policy between the three political parties regarding British policy in Palestine, with a note by Chancellor that the letter had also been communicated to several members of government, 7 Mar 1937
  11. (fols. 114-120) correspondence between Chancellor and Sir Arnold Wilson following the latter's letter to The Times (fol. 114) on the Palestine problem, advocating a Federal Syria (see also MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/22, MF 40), 15-18 Aug 1938
  12. (fols. 121-147) draft and four copies of letter from Chancellor to Malcolm MacDonald giving his views on the Palestine situation and supporting Wilson's proposals regarding Syria with a note of those to whom it was shown (20 names are listed) and letters acknowledging it from MacDonald's Private Secretary and R.M. Barrington-Ward, The Times, 19-30 Aug 1938
  13. (fols. 148-152) two letters from George Francis, Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, to Chancellor concerning Partition, and a copy of a letter on the subject addressed to The Times, signed by the Bishop and three others, 12 and 20 Oct 1938
  14. (fol. 153) letter from the Foreign Office arranging a meeting between Chancellor and Lord Halifax, 15 Nov 1938
  15. (fols. 154-158) letter from Gerald Creasy, for the Secretary of State, returning Chancellor's note of an interview which he had given to Musa Alami, late Government Advocate in Palestine, 22 and 23 Nov 1938
  16. (fols. 159-162) letter from A.W. Lawrence (brother of T.E. Lawrence) with his memorandum on 'Palestine: the Federal Solution', annotated by Chancellor, 21 Dec 1938
  17. (fols. 163-164) draft of a letter from Chancellor to Brendan Bracken, sent with a copy of Chancellor's letter to MacDonald (see above, fols. 121-147) and Bracken's reply expressing agreement, 21 and 25 Jan 1940
  18. (fols. 165-168) correspondence between Chancellor and MacDonald about land regulations for Palestine and the possibility of a federal solution, 29 Feb-13 Mar 1940
  19. (fols. 169-176) letter from Chancellor to Lord Moyne with a copy of Chancellor's 'Notes on the Palestine situation' dated 15 Oct 1938, and acknowledgements from Moyne and Snell. Copies were given also to MacDonald Sir Horace Wilson and Geoffrey Dawson, 9-12 Jun 1941
  20. (fol. 177) folder entitled 'Suggestions to H.M.G. 1931-1937 and 1938 as to Policy regarding Palestine', containing notes by Chancellor (fols. 278-234), n.d.
  21. (fols. 178-183) 'Palestine - General', outlining the chief events of Chancellor's career
  22. (fols. 184-190) 'Palestine after 1931 to 1938'
  23. (fols. 191-199) 'Palestine - constitutional position'
  24. (fols. 200-201) 'Palestine Policy'
  25. (fols. 202-203) 'National Home for Palestine'
  26. (fols. 204-205) 'Commission of Enquiry'
  27. (fols. 206-207) draft of 'Notes on Palestine situation' (see fols. 171-173), sent by Chancellor also to Lord Halifax and Lord Lloyd, 15 Oct 1938
  28. (fols. 208-209) notes of a talk with Auni Bey Abdul Hani and Musa Alami, 11 Feb 1939
  29. (fols. 210-234) rough notes and newspaper cuttings 1930-1946, n.d.

MF 9: 'Palestine 9 - Disturbances, Aug 1929':

  1. (fols. 1-48) folder containing notes and drafts on the Disturbances, copies of Chancellor's Proclamations of 1 and 4 Sep 1929, and four Reuter's telegrams dated 4 and 5 Sep, n.d.
  2. (fols. 49-59) minutes of a conference with representative Jewish leaders: Ben Zvi and Solomon (Vaad Leumi) and Rabbis Kook, Uziel, and Blau (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (1), folder 1, No. 4 of index), 2 Sep 1929
  3. (fols. 60-68) memorandum of a conference with Kisch, Jewish Agency (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14, (1), folder 1, probably No. 5 of index), 6 Sep 1929
  4. (fols. 69-77) memorandum of a conference with the Arab Executive (duplicate of MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (1), folder 1, fols. 16-23), 9 Sep 1929.

MF 10: 'Palestine 10 - Arab Delegation's visit to London, Mar 1930':

  1. (fols. 1-9) draft and notes, n.d.
  2. (fols. 10-12) three telegrams from Passfield about the Arab Delegation, and the interview given to them by him and the Prime Minister, 4 Jan, 7 Feb, and 31 Mar 1930
  3. (fols. 13-17) draft by Chancellor of an account of the preliminaries to the visit, 5 Jan to 17 Feb, n.d.
  4. (fols. 18-22) duplicate of MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/13 (2), folder 6, fols. 29-33, 30 Jan 1930
  5. (fols. 23-25) official communiqué by the Secretary of State, on his conversations with the Delegation, 20 May 1930
  6. (fols. 26-29) note by Chancellor, written on Minute Sheets, of an interview given by him to the Arab Delegation on their return from London (MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 3, No. 16 of index), 6 Jun 1930
  7. (fols. 30-61) duplicate (two copies) of MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/14 (2), folder 3, fols. 134-149, 18 Jun 1930.

Dates

  • Creation: 1925-1951

Extent

10 folders

Language of Materials

  • English

Shelfmark

MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/19

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

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