(First Prime Minister of the State of Israel, 1886-1973). Autograph Letter Signed “B-G,” in Hebrew, to Menachem Ussishkin, headed "Confidential and Personal"

BEN-GURION, DAVID

24th September

London

1938

Ben-Gurion commences this important letter by relating a perceptible change in pre-War London with preparations underway for evacuating children to the countryside in case of aerial bombardment. Ben-Gurion reports of a meeting he and Chaim (Weizmann?) attended with an unnamed British official who stated that when Britain issued the Balfour Declaration, there was no intention that Palestine would be a refuge to Jews and that the foundation of a national Jewish Home will probably take a number of generations. Britain miscalculated in allowing a large Jewish immigration to Palestine soon after Hitler's rise to power, for this caused the Arabs to riot and agitated propaganda across the Moslem world. Such incitement placed the British Empire in danger, especially on the verge of war with Germany. The official conceded that he was certain the Palestinian Arabs would not accept any Anglo-Jewish-Arab agreement as the central figure in the Arab Muslim world, Ibn Saud, insisted the fear of the Arab world must be removed. Ben-Gurion relates Chaim's disappointment with this depressing meeting. Ultimately, Ben-Gurion states, a broad Aliyah must continue, Ibn Saud should not be allowed to establish the fate and destiny of Eretz Israel and if Britain wishes to be deceptive it may do so, but not hide behind Ibn Saud. He concludes that if the war breaks out, he would return to Eretz Israel, meanwhile he requests that Ussishkin come to London to confer on these important matters