All Palestine today mourned the death of King George. Throughout the country British, Jewish and other flags were half-staffed and normal activities were carried on under a deep pall of gloom.
Special services and eulogies for the King were held in synagogues. High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, His Majesty’s representative in the Holy Land, received messages of condolence from major Jewish organizations.
Among them were the Jewish National Council, the Jewish National Fund, the Palestine Foundation Fund, the Chief Rabbinate of Palestine, and the Agudath Israel, extreme orthodox organization.
The death of the King was announced in extra editions of the newspapers, which emphasized the role that he had played in the development of Palestine. It was recalled that the Balfour Declaration, pledging Britain’s aid to creating a Jewish national home, was issued during his reign.
Most of Palestine’s population had remained awake most of the night awaiting latest radio bulletins on the King’s condition.
The death lent added significance to the fact that work has just gotten under way for the planting of the King George Jubilee Forest on the hills of Nazareth. Only last month the forest was dedicated with ceremonies in which Zionist leaders paid homage to the throne.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, cabled condolences to Queen Mary, to the royal family and to Colonial Secretary J. H. Thomas for transmission to the British Government. The secretary of the agency sent a message to the High Commissioner.
King George’s sentiments about the Holy Land were recalled by Dr. Weizmann, writing in Haaretz, Hebrew daily.
Prominent among Dr. Weizmann’s recollections of the late King is the three-quarter-hour audience with Jewish leaders in 1918 about the future of Palestine.
The King asked, Dr. Weizmann wrote, whether all the Jews support the Zionist idea. Then he stated, “It is written in the Holy Scriptures that the Jews will return to Palestine. I am glad my government is helping.” He also promised at that time to follow the development of Zionism, the Zionist leader stated.
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.
