17 Years Ago Today

On a murky day in 1917 during the gloomiest period of the World War, when the British heavy guns were pounding the Turkish lines preparatory to an advance on Jerusalem, world Jewry was electrified: Palestine, ancient homeland of the Jews, was to become the Jewish national home.

In simple, direct language, the late Lord Balfour, then British Foreign Secretary, wrote to Lord Rothschild:

“His Majesty’s government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object.”

November 2 thus became a red-letter day in Jewish history.

HAILED BY ALL JEWRY AS EPOCHAL EVENT

In every section of the world, wherever Jews lived, the Balfour Declaration was hailed as an epoch making event; the righting of a great wrong consummated with fire and sword in the year 66 A.D. The Jewish people, scattered far and wide, were to have a national home and the Allied Powers were to be the prime movers. Other governments also expressed their sympathy with the age-old Jewish aspirations.

The Zionist ideal, sponsored by Dr. Theodor Herzl, was no longer a fantastic dream. It was now a reality, perhaps even a terrifying one.

In April, 1920, the European statesmen met at San Remo and the Balfour Declaration was implemented in the treaty with Turkey. Great Britain assumed the mandate over Palestine. The task of building Palestine could now begin.

Premier Lloyd George turned to Dr. Chaim Weizmann and said: “We have given you a start. It is now for you to make good.”

When Dr. Weizmann returned to London from San Remo, he was given a triumphant reception at Victoria station.

PALESTINE IN GRIP OF ARAB RIOTING

While the statesmen sat around a table at San Remo Palestine was in the grip of rioting. Arab nationalists were attacking Jewish colonists. Jews were being killed in Palestine because the Arab could find no other way of protesting against Zionism. The British military administration, still in control of Palestine, was hostile to the Jews. Jewish self-defense organizations were broken up and their members sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

April 24, the day of the San Remo decision, was a day of mourning in Jerusalem. Into this atmosphere of sorrow came Menachem Mendel Ussishkin, veteran Zionist leader, with a message.

“I am the bearer of a historic message today,” he told a throng in the synagogue. “Rabbi Kook just spoke to you of the Diaspora, of suffering and distress, of all you have borne and seen during the last few days—but I am bringing news of our redemption, of the future, of new life, great hopes and our deep faith which has been vindicated today.”

17 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE DECLARATION

Seventeen years have passed since the Balfour Declaration was announced. The initial enthusiasm with which it was greeted is gone. Governments have come and gone in Great Britain. Some have been hostile, others friendly. The Zionist organization has passed through crisis after crisis. Bit by bit the Balfour Declaration has been whittled down, a little at a time. The Passfield Paper, the Mac-Donald letter, the Simpson report, the French report and decisions of the League Mandate Commission—all have done their part in vitiating the original intent of the declaration.

The Palestine administration itself has been hostile. The Arabs have become more articulate and better organized in their protests.

Anti-Semitism is once more rife in the world, Jews are being persecuted in many sections of the world. The need for a Jewish national home is more acute than ever. Mass immigration into Palestine is hamstrung by British regulations.

OBSTACLES HANDLED

But despite these difficulties and despite terrific obstacles, a mighty Jewish edifice has arisen in Palestine. More than 305,000 Jews, the greatest number since the exile, today make their home in Palestine, on the farms and in the cities. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in Palestine by Jews and the ancient country is experiencing a rebirth. A Hebrew University looks down from Mount Scopus upon the city of Jerusalem. And over the length and breadth of the land, from the Dead Sea to the upper reaches of Galilee, Jews are at work building.

In 1925 Lord Balfour, then retired, came to Palestine for a well earned triumph, to see for himself the result of historic declaration and to lay the cornerstone for the Hebrew University. He was received with tremendous enthusiasm and he too was enthused by Jewish accomplishments in Palestine.

BALFOUR LAUDED RESULTS IN 1930

Speaking in London on April 24, 1930, on the anniversary of the San Remo conference Lord Balfour said:

“For long I have been a convinced Zionist, and it is in that character that I now speak, although in my most sanguine moments I never foresaw, never even conceived, that the great work of Palestinian reconstruction would happen so soon, or that indeed it was likely to happen in my own lifetime.”

Thus spoke the author of the Balfour Declaration shortly before his death.

Since then much has happened, but the reconstruction of Palestine, set in motion by the Balfour Declaration, goes on.