Dear Friend,
I'm sorry to tell you all that Dr. Robert John is terminally ill. He's 86 years old, and he's always been in exceptionally good health, but recently developed bladder cancer which has metasticized. He's not expected to live very long. This afternoon he's going into a hospice.
I talked with his daugher, Dane, on the phone just now, and she gave me the sad news. I asked her what she wanted me to do, whether I should inform the people I know who also know him, and she said she would appreciate it if I would do so.
In addition to being a genuinely nice guy, he has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the cause all his life, and made important contributions, such as his book, Palestine Diary, which is based on original source material that is no longer available anywhere else. I was really glad when he made a new edition available to the public, because the information it contains is important.
There will be some sort of service in New York City. I will be in touch with his daughter, Dane, and I'll let you know.
Marian Van Court
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
The Palestine Diary is indispensable to understanding the 9/11 attacks on the USA, and Middle East terrorism. The Palestine Diary in two volumes - Britain's Involvement 1914-1945 and United States, United Nations Intervention 1945-1948 explains the origins of continuing Middle East wars and the war on terrorism, showing their origins in national and international politics and the two World Wars-with facsimile of the once-"Secret" British document promising independence for Palestine.
About the Author
Robert John is a diplomatic historian and public educator through writing, lecturing, and broadcasting. Elected an honorary life member of Yale U. Political Union, after his first lecture to service officers at the Army & Navy Club in Washington, he was presented with a citation from the Military Order of the World Wars: "For his courage and dedication to truth in giving the American public a great and scholarly analysis of the complex problems confronting our nation in its political relations with the nations of the Middle East." He was an elected official of the British conservative party. Dr. John graduated from University of London King's College, then studied at the Middle Temple Inns of Court, where five signers of the Declaration of Independence also studied law. In the United States, he was invited to the Hoover Institution, working with the papers of Professor Westermann of Columbia University, advisor on Turkish affairs to the American delegation at the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference. He served as foreign affairs advisor to the Council on American Affairs in Washington from 1976 to 1986. In 2004 the International Institute for Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics presented Dr John with the Garrett Hardin Award at a ceremony in Baden-Baden, Germany. The award is the highest honor after the Nobel Prize recommendations. The citation states: for his significant contribution to the global education of people, for his leadership, inspiration and moral courage, for his accurate perception of the world and for his brilliant assessment of societal developments as reflected in his deeply insightful scholarly writings. From the Royal Palace, Amman, Jordan, Prince El Hassan bin Talal wrote to him on 27th of May, 2004: "Reading through some files from the last couple of years, I came across your superb piece of March 2002 entitled `Who else remembers September 11?' . . ."
