In 1928, he became High Commissioner of the British Mandate of Palestine, where he was perceived as being cool to Zionism and the Jewish people.[12] Though he admired some Zionist leaders, in particular Pinchas Rutenberg, in general Chancellor's attitude towards Jews was negative.[13] He wrote to his son that "truly the Jews are an ungrateful race".[13] His attitude towards Arabs was politically supportive but paternalistic; he wrote to his son "they are like children, and very difficult to help".[13]