Alfred Mond Dedicates Balfour Forest, Plants First Tree at Jinjar

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The first tree of the Balfour Forest, planted in the Jewish colony, Jinjar, in the valley of Jezred, was set in place by Sir Alfred Mond. The forest is being planted by the Jewish National Fund in honor of the author of the Balfour Declaration as a part of the Fund’s afforestation program in Palestine.

A message from Lord Balfour was read at the exercises attending the planting of the first tree.

“It is unnecessary for me to express my sense of the honor conferred upon me by naming the forest after me,” Lord Balfour stated in his message. “The feeling of personal gratification is trifling compared with the satisfaction with which I view this important step in the economic development of Palestine. Afforestation is naturally a slow business, but an important one. Although I can not hope to live to see the results, I am confident of the immense benefit to the future of the country this afforestation program will bring.”

Sir Herbert Samuel, former High Commissioner of Palestine, sent a message in which he stated: “May the Balfour forest endure as his name will ensure.”

David Lloyd George in his message stated: “I rejoice that so lasting and beneficent a tribute from British Jewry was initiated in honor of the distinguished British statement whose name it bears. His name will ever be associated with the historic declaration by the government of which I was the head.”

The decision to plant the Balfour Forest was announced by Nahum Sokolow, chairman of the Zionist Executive, at a dinner given in London to Lord Balfour to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. Lord Balfour and Sir Alfred Mond were among those present.

The Jewish National Fund, Mr. Sokolow said, had decided to arrange for the planting of a Balfour Forest, consisting of 50,000 trees, as a permanent mark of appreciation to the author of the historic charter.