Office of the Historian

501.BB Palestine/10–1647

The Arab Higher Committee to the Consul General at Jerusalem (Macatee)1

Jerusalem, October 3, 1947.

Your Excellency: We have the honour to present the following for submission to your esteemed Government:—

1.
The Arabs of Palestine have declared a general strike today2 in protest against the schemes and recommendations of the UNSCOP, and in support of their national demands.
2.
The Arabs of Palestine refuse definitely to acquiesce in any solution entailing the partitioning of Palestine, or the dismemberment of any part thereof; and insist on the application of the provisions of the United Nations Charter.
3.
The Arabs of Palestine unanimously demand the termination of the mandate over Palestine, the establishment of an Arab democratic state, and the withdrawal of British Troops and Government personnel.

We earnestly draw the attention of your Government to the serious situation that will arise in Palestine and the Middle East if the Arab just demands are not implemented.

Yours Respectfully,

Emil Ghory

for Arab Higher Committee
  1. Transmitted to the Department in despatch 183, October 16, from Jerusalem; received November 4.↩
  2. According to telegram 403, September 27, from Jerusalem, the Executive of the Arab Higher Committee, on September 25, had summoned the Arab and Islamic world to stage a general strike, including a demonstration, on October 3 to tell the world that Moslem and Christian Arabs rejected the UNSCOP recommendations and would resist any attempt to carry them out (501.BB Palestine/9–2747). Telegram 419, October 4, from Jerusalem, reported the strike on October 3 was complete but quiet, with only minor incidents reported (501.BB Palestine/10–447).↩