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has to be defended. As to the attitude of the United States Government, I felt that many of
those who were advising us to ignore the United Nations decision in our favour, and to let
our independence go by default, would respect us more if we did not accept their advice. I
was convinced that once we had taken our destiny into our own hands and established the
Republic, the American people would applaud our resolution, and see in our successful
struggle for independence the image of its own national liberation a century and three-
quarters ago. So strongly did I feel that, at a time when the United States was formally
opposed to our Declaration of Independence I already began to be preoccupied with the
idea of American recognition of the Jewish State.
Many friends and colleagues thought I was being somewhat less than realistic, and tried to
dissuade me from encouraging a step which in their opinion could only end in retreat and
disaster. They expressed astonishment at what they called my unwonted intransigence.
In Palestine, where the doubts and hesitations which reigned at Lake Success found no
echo, there was no thought of relinquishing the rights conferred on us, and by a suicidal
act of self-denial refusing statehood; or, if there was any doubt, it was connected with
our intentions in America rather than with those of the Palestinian Jews. In the general
breakdown of British Administration, there was a period when communications between
America and Palestine were irregular and unreliable. Our views at the American end
were not at all clear to the Yishuv. Mr. Ben-Gurion, the Chairman of the Jewish Agency
Executive, was trying, without success, to ascertain exactly where I stood. In the early
part of May, Mr. Shertok left for Palestine to clear matters up, and in the second week of
that month I strengthened our contacts with our friends in Washington, and affirmed my
intention of going ahead with a bid for recognition of the Jewish State as soon as it was
proclaimed. On May 13 I addressed the following letter to the President of the United
States:
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,
T he unhappy events of the last few months will not, I hope, obscure the
very great contributions which you, Mr. President, have made towards
a definitive and just settlement of the long and troublesome Palestine
question. The leadership which the American Government took under your
inspiration made possible the establishment of a Jewish State, which I am
convinced will contribute markedly towards a solution of the world Jewish
problem, and which I am equally convinced is a necessary preliminary
to the development of lasting peace among the peoples of the Near East.
So far as practical conditions in Palestine would permit, the Jewish people
have proceeded along the lines laid down in the United Nations Resolution of
November 29, 1947. Tomorrow midnight, May 15, the British Mandate will be
terminated, and the Provincial Government of the Jewish State, embodying the
best endeavours of the Jewish people and arising from the Resolution of the
United Nations, will assume full responsibility for preserving law and order
206 The Friday That Changed Destiny
those who were advising us to ignore the United Nations decision in our favour, and to let
our independence go by default, would respect us more if we did not accept their advice. I
was convinced that once we had taken our destiny into our own hands and established the
Republic, the American people would applaud our resolution, and see in our successful
struggle for independence the image of its own national liberation a century and three-
quarters ago. So strongly did I feel that, at a time when the United States was formally
opposed to our Declaration of Independence I already began to be preoccupied with the
idea of American recognition of the Jewish State.
Many friends and colleagues thought I was being somewhat less than realistic, and tried to
dissuade me from encouraging a step which in their opinion could only end in retreat and
disaster. They expressed astonishment at what they called my unwonted intransigence.
In Palestine, where the doubts and hesitations which reigned at Lake Success found no
echo, there was no thought of relinquishing the rights conferred on us, and by a suicidal
act of self-denial refusing statehood; or, if there was any doubt, it was connected with
our intentions in America rather than with those of the Palestinian Jews. In the general
breakdown of British Administration, there was a period when communications between
America and Palestine were irregular and unreliable. Our views at the American end
were not at all clear to the Yishuv. Mr. Ben-Gurion, the Chairman of the Jewish Agency
Executive, was trying, without success, to ascertain exactly where I stood. In the early
part of May, Mr. Shertok left for Palestine to clear matters up, and in the second week of
that month I strengthened our contacts with our friends in Washington, and affirmed my
intention of going ahead with a bid for recognition of the Jewish State as soon as it was
proclaimed. On May 13 I addressed the following letter to the President of the United
States:
DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,
T he unhappy events of the last few months will not, I hope, obscure the
very great contributions which you, Mr. President, have made towards
a definitive and just settlement of the long and troublesome Palestine
question. The leadership which the American Government took under your
inspiration made possible the establishment of a Jewish State, which I am
convinced will contribute markedly towards a solution of the world Jewish
problem, and which I am equally convinced is a necessary preliminary
to the development of lasting peace among the peoples of the Near East.
So far as practical conditions in Palestine would permit, the Jewish people
have proceeded along the lines laid down in the United Nations Resolution of
November 29, 1947. Tomorrow midnight, May 15, the British Mandate will be
terminated, and the Provincial Government of the Jewish State, embodying the
best endeavours of the Jewish people and arising from the Resolution of the
United Nations, will assume full responsibility for preserving law and order
206 The Friday That Changed Destiny
