September 1, 1929 High Commissioner of Palestine Mandate

Proclamation of Sir John Chancellor, High Commissioner of Palestine Mandate:

“I have returned from the United Kingdom to find my distress the country in a state of disorder and a prey to unlawful violence.

I have learned with horror of the atrocious acts committed by bodies of ruthless and blood-thirsty evil-doers, of savage murders perpetrated upon defenseless members of the Jewish population regardless of age or sex, accompanied as at Hebron, by acts of unspeakable savagery, of the burning of farms and houses in town and country and of the looting and destruction of property.

These crimes have brought upon their authors the execration of all civilized peoples throughout the world.

My first duties are to restore order in the country and to inflict stern punishment upon those found guilty of acts of violence. All necessary measures will be taken to achieve those ends, and I charge all the inhabitants of Palestine to assist me in discharging these duties.

In accordance with an undertaking which I gave to the committee of the Arab executive before I left Palestine in June, I initiated discussions with the secretary of state when in England on the subject of constitutional changes in Palestine. In view of recent events I shall suspend these discussions with his majesty’s government.

In order to put a stop to the mendacious statements that have recently been circulated on the subject of the Western Wall, I hereby with the concurrence of his majesty’s government make it known that I intend to give effect to the principles laid down in the White Paper of the 19^th (of) November, 1928, after the methods of applying them have been determined.”