Herbert Samuel | Proclamation of Herbert Samuel as the first High Commissioner of Palestine, Hebrew, 1920

Herbert Samuel

Proclamation poster of Herbert Samuel as the first High Commissioner of Palestine. Jerusalem: 1920

Large poster (565 x 485mm.), British royal coat of arms top-centre, Hebrew text in two columns, mounted on white card, small marginal ink smudge to top left corner, central crease from folding, a few small tears at page edges 

The proclamation opens with words on behalf of King George V regarding the British Mandate in Palestine and the appointment of a High Commissioner: 'The League of Nations granted my Kingdom the right to ... ensure the development, in peace, of Eretz Israel, which was prevented for so many years…' It goes on to detail Samuel's plans to develop the country and enhance the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the country, while maintaining balanced relationships between the Jewish Yishuv and the Muslim and Christian population.

When the British defeated the Ottomans in Palestine in 1918, the British administered the area under what was known as the Occupied Enemy Territory Authority (OETA). This Authority was effectively martial law, but signalled its failings with the Nebi Musa disturbances of April 1920. In response, Lloyd George appointed Sir Herbert Samuel - the first practising Jew to serve in the British cabinet - to turn OETA over into a civil authority run along crown colony lines. Despite no formal peace treaty between Britain and Turkey, and the failure of the newly created League of Nations to recognise British rule of Palestine, Samuel arrived in Palestine at the end of June 1920 invested with the power to run a civilian administration.

A supporter of Zionism, Samuel backed the Balfour Declaration, and his appointment was met with acclaim by Jews in Palestine. Upon his arrival, intelligence reports suggested that members of the Arab population might stage an attempt on Samuel's life, and consequently he was transported to Jerusalem in an armoured train. Because the Americans were pushing for Palestine to be given Mandatory status, Samuel was officially titled High Commissioner, rather than Governor, although the Colonial Office assumed direct responsibility and organised the territory exactly along traditional British colonial lines.