Lot 163
Collection of Telegrams and Paper Items - The Palestine-Arab Delegation to London, 1921-1922
Eleven telegrams and paper items documenting the activity of the Palestine-Arab Delegation to London. London, 1921-1922. English and Arabic.
In 1919, after World War I and following the British occupation of Palestine, some groups of Muslims and Christians in Palestine united and organized the Palestine Arab Congress. During the years 1920-1928 the congress convened six times, focusing on opposition to the Zionist Movement and demanding the renunciation of the Balfour declaration. In 1921, during the third congress, the politician Musa Kazim Pasha al-Husseini was elected to head The Palestine Arab Delegation to London. This was the first of several delegations that were sent to London during the years 1921-1930. While in England, members of the delegation tried to draw attention to the Arab-Palestinian issue and met with many leaders and politicians (including the Pope, representatives of the League of Nations, secretary of state for colonies Winston Churchill, and others). In 1922 the delegation returned to Palestine as a protest against the approval of the text of the Mandate of Palestine. The delegation did not achieve any significant results but succeeded in gaining support from British Parliament members, mainly from the conservative party.
The present collection includes:
* Eight telegrams (printed on paper strips and glued onto the telegram form), sent to delegation members in November 1921. Most contain reports on strikes, demonstrations and protests occurring on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, in various cities throughout Palestine and in Cairo. English.
* Copy of a long letter dated 24 October 1921, typewritten and stenciled (the first page typewritten on the delegation's official stationery), addressed to the British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. The letter expresses sharp opposition to the Balfour Declaration, calls for the restriction of Jewish immigration and proposes guidelines for solving the Palestine problem in the spirit of the Arab approach. English.
* Two summaries of the delegation's activities in April and May 1922. Handwritten and stenciled, on official stationery. Among other things, the summaries mention a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Allied Powers in Paris, participation in an economic convention in Genoa (Italy), meetings with leftist politicians in England, a meeting with the High Commissioner Herbert Samuel, and other issues. Arabic.
Enclosed: fourteen paper items that belonged to delegation member Ibrahim Shammas (al-Shammas), including receipts, letters, purchase certificates, items connected with his activities in the Freemason organization, and more.
See enclosed material.
Size and condition vary. Fair overall condition. Some of the telegrams are in fair-poor condition, with stains, creases, tears and open tears (mostly to margins).
