Announce to Baha'i communities, East and West, on the joyous occasion of
the hundred and thirty-fifth Anniversary of Baha'u'llah's Birthday, the
successful termination of the protracted negotiations, initiated two years
ago and culminating in the signature to the contract providing the
eventual, formal transfer by the Development Authority of the State of
Israel to the Palestine Branch of the American National Spiritual Assembly
of the extensive, long-desired, vitally-needed property surrounding and
safeguarding for posterity the Most Holy Tomb of the Founder of the Faith,
as well as the adjoining Mansion.
The acquired area, raising Baha'i holdings on the holy plain of Akka from
four thousand to one hundred and fifty-five thousand square meters, was
exchanged against property donated by children of Zikrullah, grandchildren
of Mirza Muhammad Quli, Baha'u'llah's faithful half-brother and companion
in exile.
This spontaneous offer contrasts with the shameful action of the family in
the sale to non-Baha'is of the property in the neighborhood of the Jordan
valley purchased through the instrumentality of 'Abdu'l-Baha during
Baha'u'llah's lifetime, pursuant to His instructions and alluded to in His
writings.
The forty acre property acquired in this single transaction almost equals
the entire Baha'i international endowments purchased in the course of
sixty years in the vicinity of the Bab's Sepulcher on the slope of Mount
Carmel.
The exchange of said property, including land and houses, was made
possible by the precipitate flight of the former Arab owners, traditional
supporters of the old Covenant-breakers and descendants of the notorious
enemy of 'Abdu'l-Baha who placed his residence at the disposal of the
Committee of Investigation.
The signature to the agreement signalized the commencement of large-scale
landscaping, aiming at the beautification of the immediate precincts of
the holiest spot in the entire Baha'i world, itself the prelude to the
eventual erection, as happened in the case of the Bab's Sepulcher, of a
befitting Mausoleum enshrining the precious Dust of the Most Great Name.
Desire to acknowledge the indefatigable efforts exerted by both Larry
Hautz and Leroy Ioas enabling the consummation of the initial stage of the
enterprise destined to eclipse in its final phase the splendor and
magnificence of the Bab's resting-place on Mount Carmel.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, November 12, 1952]