February 10, 1939 Colonial Secretary Malcolm McDonald

Colonial Secretary Malcolm McDonald:

“THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DISCLOSED TODAY THAT IT WOULD NOT SACRIFICE VITAL STRATEGIC INTEREST OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE IN THE NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST BY MAINTAINING A JEWISH NATIONAL HOME IN PALESTINE, ‘AT THE POINT OF A BAYONET.’  Britain’s future policy for holy land was sketch briefly and politely but bluntly to the Jewish delegation at the Palestine conference in London, by Malcolm MacDonald, colonial secretary. After hearing a firm statement of Arab policy yesterday the British realized, more than ever, that peace could never be brought to Palestine, or indeed to the entire eastern Mediterranean, Suez and red sea region, as long as the present system of Jewish emigration and land purchases was maintained.”

Source: The New York Times, February 11, 1939