Palestine Government Will Soon Introduce Necessary Reforms, Balfour Announces; Weizmann Voices Zionist Executive’s Political Demands; Reading, Samuel, Ormsby Gore, Mond, Wedgwood and Sokolow Speak; Leaders Join Palestine Mandate Society (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The British Government will assist the Jewish Agency in the rebuilding of Palestine as the Jewish National Home and will introduce the necessary reforms in the Palestine taxation system. This was the tenor of the assurances given by leading British statement at the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Balfour Declaration which took place at the Hotel Savoy Thursday night.
The celebration was held under the auspices of the Anglo-Palestine Club which gave a dinner in honor of Lord Balfour, the author of the Declaration.
In addition to these assurances, two important announcements were made at the gathering one to the effect that a Palestine Mandate Society had been formed in London with the participation of leading British statesmen and that the Jewish National Fund will undertake to plant a “Balfour Forest” in Palestine.
Five hundred and eighty guests, prominent Jews and non-Jews, members of parliament, leaders of the army and the diplomatic corps, attended. Among those present were Sir Herbert Samuel, the Marquis of Reading, Major Ormsby Gore, Sir Alfred Mond, Sir Gilbert Clayton, Sir Wyndham Deedes, Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Commander Kenworkthy, J. L. Garvin, editor of the “London Observer,” Chief Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz and Dr. Moses Gaster. James de Rothschild, son of Baron Edmunde de Rothschild, founder of the first Jewish colonies in Palestine, presided.
The unanimity of sentiment prevailing in Great Britain with regard to the British government’s obligation toward the Jewish efforts in reconstructing Palestine was manifest in the addresses of the representatives of the three governments. Liberal, Labor and Conservative, which have in turn endorsed the Zionist policy since the issuance of the Balfour Declaration ten years ago.
WEIZMANN STATES ZIONIST DEMANDS
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, in his address devoted mainly to reminiscences of the time when the Balfour Declaration was issued, put forward the political demands of the Zionist Executive at present. Dr. Weizmann, as well as Col. Josiah Wedgwood and Sir Herbert Samuel, urged the Palestine administration to lend more energetic support to the Jewish effort in Palestine.
The Marquis of Reading in proposing a toast to the Mandatory Power stated that the meaning of the toast was that His Majesty’s Government and Lord Balfour will forever be associated with the Declaration. In a warm personal tribute to Lord Balfour, the Marquis stated that Balfour enjoys the affection and esteem of all classes.
The British Government will carry out the Balfour Declaration and the provisions of the Mandate. England, the Marquis stated, holds and protects Palestine and there could not have been a better choice for the mandatory power for Palestine than the English government. Lord Reading praised highly the work of Sir Herbert Samuel, former High Commissioner, and that of Lord Plumer, the present High Commissioner. Both of them have carried out England’s promise to the Jewish people, he said.
Major Ormsby Gore, Understate Secretary for the Colonies, replying to Lord Reading’s toast, stated that no matter what party is in power the government is responsible to parliament and the League of Nations for its work in Palestine. He laid emphasis on the fact that England has continued in Palestine her traditional policy of governing the country not from London but through a High Commissioner in the country, to whom the responsibility for the administration is intrusted. All that has been achieved up to now in Palestine is due to the administrative abilities of Sir Herbert Samuel and Lord Balfour, he stated.
The Understate Secretary added that he shared with the Zionists all their hopes and enthusiasm for Palestine and its reconstruction. It is necessary, however, to face the practical difficulties. England, he stated, considers and and acts upon all practical problems when they arise. The first principle of good government is to establish internal peace in the country, to balance the budget, to protect all enterprises. When this is achieved, economic and social progress is made possible. The British government cooperates and will contribute to cooperate with and facilitate the work of Jewish Agency in Palestine. The material prosperity of the country is continuing to grow.
The present difficulties and failures which have been observed of late are merely temprary and will soon disappear, Major Ormsby gore continued. These failures are certainly no cause for losing courage. “We are making steady and continuous progress in Palestine,” he exchaimed.
It is the study of the British government to enable the Jewish people to grow and develop in a Bright atmosphere which would take roots in the soil of the land, to grow without fear, to be protected against their enermies, to develop and to flourish unhampered. The policy of the Palestine mandate was some years ago the subject of a controversy in British public opinion. Today, however, it is accepted by all parties since it has been realized that the Zionist movement has a spiritual Value for humanity, he concluded.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann in his toast to Lord Balfour stated that the Balfour Declaration was issued not for political reasons and not as a war time meansure, but out of a feeling of justice due to the Jews, to that ancient people whome the Christian world owes everything.
Lord Balfour, the president of the World Zionist Organization stated, was at first opposed to the plan that England alone accept the mandate for Palestine. Balfour wanted the mandate to be given to the United States of America or at least to the United States and England Jointly. Notwithstanding the fact that he was in close contact with those British Jews who were opposed to the ideak of Zionism, Balfour learned the truth abouth the aspiritions and the abilities of the Jewish people. It was Lord Balfour and David Lloyd George, former Prime Minister, who proposed the issuance of the Declaration to the cabinet.
“It was only natural,” Dr. Weizmann coutinued, “that the Jewish people should interpret the Declaration to mean that Eretz Israel was given to the Jews. It was unfortunate that the Jews were not then prepared to take Palestine. Now, however, the Jewish people takes the opportunity afforded them and it is our hope that we will make of Palestine that which the Jews wanted to see in the Balfour Declaration.”
After reviewing the work of the Zionists in Palestine, the achivements which they have to their credit and the difficulties which attended the work, Dr. Weizmann stated that the Jews and proven to the world that they can rebuild Palestine. “there was a time when our work had the character of an experiment. That time had passed. The hour has arrived when the government of Palestine must hasten to facilitate the Zionist work and to make our task in the country easier.”
The president of the World Zionist Organization stated emphatically that several provisions of the Palestine mandate have not yet been carried out. “The mandate states explicitly that Jews should be admited to Palestine freely, not as of sufferance but of right. However,in order to acomplish their task the Jews must have the loyal cooperation of the government. The success of Jewish work in Palestine depends not no the amount of money invested by Jewish people in the country, but on the number of people whom they bring in and on the policy of the Palestine government, its support and cooperation.”
Turning to Lord Balfour, Dr. Weizmann thanked him in behalf of the Jewish people for the issuance of the Balfour Declaration and for his work in behalf of Zionism. In glowing terms he depicted the glorious future of Palestine and that the best reward for the father of the Balfour Declaration would be the great future of a Jewish people.
SAMUEL ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PALESTINE
Sir Herbert Samuel in his toast praised the heroic achievements of the Chaluzim and of the Jewish workers in Palestine. They, Dr. Weizmann and the English administration had contributed toward the success of Palestine, he declared. The former High Commissioner spoke with great enthusiasm of the Hebrew University and the renaissance of the Hebrew language and culture in the country. during the five years of his administration peace and order were established in the country and much of the prejudice was removed. If another policy Would have been alienated from Palestine, he said. Lord Balfour, who was accorded a long ovation by the assembled guests, in rising to reply to the toats, stated that he was moved by the spirit of the evening and by the honer accorded him. The author of the Balfour Declaration stated that he was an old Zionist, long before the Declaration was issued. The Declaration will, in the course of time, became a complete
Commenting on the present situation in Palestine, Lord Bafour declared that the experiment made in Palestine is far from being a failure. It is indeed a success. This successis due o the statesmanship of Sir Herbert Samuel and Dr. Chaim Weizmann.
BALFOUR ASURES COOPERATION
When be was in Palestine two years ago, Lord Balfour related, he observed how the Jews and Arabs live peacefully together. He is deeply convinced that the remainder of the antagonism will soon disappear. “I am convinced that the Jewish are devoting themselves to the work and I am certain that the government will help them in this work.” Replying to Dr. Weizmann concerning the grievences against the Palestine administration for limiting immigration and for maintainng the high taxation on land, Lord Balfour stated that he was authorized by the Palestine government to declare on its behalf that important reforms will soon be introduced in the land taxation system, that the government has in mind all the Zionist organization. It intends to introduce certain general reforms. A special staff reccently was appointed to undertake the work of a land review which is essental as a preliminary in the reform of the land taxation. The result of this work will enable the government to readjust the present difficalties in the land taxation system.
England and the allied governments as well as the Jewish people wish that Zionism be crowned with success. No one is now opposed to Zionism. The success of Zionism is secure,” Lord Balfour exclaimed.
“the second of November will remain a great day not only in the history of the Jewish people but in the history of the world,” he concluded.
Col. Wedgwood, labor M.P., stated that Palestine was not only the Jewish Nat- (Unclear)
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
