Letter from Charles R. Crane to Donald Brodie, 30 November 1934

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San Diego, California,
November 30, 1924.
Mr. Donald M. Bridle
522 Fifth Ave.,
New York City, N. $.
Dear Mr. Brodie?
This is more or less the story of the
Commission on Mandates.
The Bliss family had built up the University at Beirut and Howard Bliss, the son, spent most of his
life around the University and had become very much attached to the Arab folk. He was taken, when about fifty,
with tuberculosis and was anxious to do one last thing for
his people. Knowing how strongly they felt about Zianism
and French rule he went to Paris to see President Wilson
and persuade him to have a first-rate, impartial commission
go to Syria and Palestine and learn at first hand about the
condition of the people.
Having known Howard Bliss for many years
and of his high character and sincere interest, President
Wilson set about at once to form such a commission composed
of two members from each of the allied powers, America,
England, France and Italy.  They all consented at once and
agreed to appoint delegates. President Wilson appointed Dr.
King and me as the American members and Great Britain appointed General MacMahon and Prof. Hogarth. Neither the
French nor the Italian Governments took any real interest
in the matter.
After considerable delay the British
Government received a sharp telegram from Allenby, then in
control out there, saying that the people were very mich
disappointed at the delay in setting up the Commission and
he suggested that the Commission Immediately get into action.
However, a strong Zionist opposition had developed and both
the French and the Italian Governments were unsympathetic.
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