Letter to Chaim Weizmann

Introduction

The Palestine Arab riots of 1929 triggered British government activity the purpose of which was to renege on the Palestine Mandate. Following the Hope-Simpson report and based on its recommendations,  the British responded with the Passfield White Paper of 1930, which was the first attempt to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine. The Passfield White Paper  evoked considerable opposition from the Zionist movement and was rescinded effectively in a letter issued to Haim Weizmann by PM Ramsay Macdonald. The letter was read by the PM in the House of Commons and reprinted in The Hansard.  Macdonald did not rescind the Passfield White Paper. He simply denied that it had been the intention of the government to stop immigration, and in fact, in subsequent years, Jewish immigration to Palestine increased significantly.

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