Letter from Chaim Weizmann to President Harry S. Truman

C A B E ADDREss: " ED 5-3000 - white The WALDORF - ASTORIA PARK A N D LEXINGTON AVENUES // 49TH AND 5OTH STREETS // N E w Y O R K 204) April 9, 1948 The President The White House mise Washington, D.C. TRUNAN RATIONEL ARD Dear Mr. President: I had intended to take the liberty of addressing you in writing immediately after the interview which you kindly accorded me on March 18th. The events which followed, however, impelled me to wait until I could formulate some clearer impressions on the new situation which has developed. In inviting your consideration of my views at this time, I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for the personal kindness which you have so often shown me, and for the sympathetic interest which you have constantly devoted to the cause of our people in its grave ordeal. I noted with satisfaction that in your statement of March 25 you indicated that the United States had not abandoned Partition as the ultimate political settlement in Palestine. I welcome this as- surance because my long experience of this problem has convinced me beyond doubt that no more realistic solution exists. Palestine is inhabited by two peoples. These peoples have separate political as- pirations and common economic interests. The settlement by Partition and economic union recognizes this logic. Partition is further rein- forced by the support of two distinguished investigating Commissions (in 1937 and 1947), by the binding force of the General Assembly's Resolution and by the fact that a virtual Partition is now crystal- lising in Palestine. Jews and Arabs are both mature for independence and are already obedient in a large degree to their own institutions, while the central British Administration is in virtual collapse. In large areas Jews and Arabs are virtually in control of their own lives and interests. The clock cannot be put back to the situation which existed before November 29. I would also draw attention to the psychological effects of promising Jewish independence in November and attempting to cancel it in March. x 76-c