867N.01/11–2144: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:30 p.m.]
3534. Some 500 members of various Arab groups, including Fuad Abaza’s Arab Union Society, Ikwan Al-Muslimin and representatives of neighboring Arab states including Tunisians and Moroccans, Christians as well as Moslems, assembled at Young Men’s Moslem Association on November 19 to consider telegram will [to] be sent to President Roosevelt protesting against American policy toward Palestine.
Speeches by Fuad Abaza Pasha, Allouba Pasha and other leaders emphasized following points.
- 1.
- Palestine question must be settled in a manner favorable to paramount Arab interests.
- 2.
- If Palestine is thrown open to Jews as national home it will be a source of constant trouble throughout Arab world after the war.
- 3.
- Roosevelt should, therefore, publicly retract Zionist declarations made during the campaign.
Text of conference’s telegram which has been [apparent omission] by United Press follows [in] airgram.58 It is learned that some of the speeches were couched in rather violent terms, Allouba, for instance, vowing that if the Jewish national home policy was not retracted he would be the first to denounce United States as a false champion of freedom and democracy. Another speaker was loudly acclaimed when he swore that Arab societies believed that American Zionism was more than just a vote-getting election formula and they would go “to any lengths” to support their Palestine brethren against Jewish encroachment. Atmosphere of the meeting was described as heated and observers believe it may be precursor of similar unofficial manifestations to come.
Copies to Baghdad, Beirut, Damascus, Jerusalem and Jidda by pouch.
- See A–634, November 21, 11 a.m., infra.↩