Breaking down amid sobs and tears, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of the World Zionist Organization, at a meeting of the Actions Committee of the Zionist Organization, said:
“It is not easy to express what we all feel at this moment. As recently as three days ago I had the good fortune to see him and to silently convey to him in your name good wishes and greetings. It was clear to me then that we couldn’t count him among the living much longer, but the brutal fact that Lord Balfour is no longer among us is more than shattering for us all.
“His death brings to a close a period of great desires and dreams. Lord Balfour was taken away from us at a time when we needed him most. It is not yet time to speak of all of that which bound him to us. You know what he did for us only a few weeks ago. Lord Balfour can be compared in the History of the Jews only with King Cyrus of Persia. Like Cyrus, Lord Balfour was the head of a great empire who worked for the return of the Jews to their own land. In Cyrus’ day, too, only the poor and weak returned to the land of their fathers, but then, too, there arose leaders of the people who led them to its greatness and to the formation of the Jewish state. These arose then, too, enemies of the people but the leaders overcame them and carried their work to completion.
“I am convinced that Balfour’s memory will fuse us into a unity which will keep us closer together than ever and bring our great work to a happy ending. Adonay Yenachen Aveyley Zion Jerusalaym (God will solace the mourners of Zion in Jerusalem).”
Throughout Dr. Weizmann’s tribute to Lord Balfour sobs were audible throughout the meeting hall and there was hardly a delegate present without tears in his eyes.
The dinner in honor of M. M. Ussishkin, head of the Jewish National Fund, which was to have been held tomorrow under the chairmanship of Dr. Weizmann has been cancelled.
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