In 1921 Palestine a Romance, Now a Proposition, Lord Melchett Tells London Mass Meeting

The same resolutions which were unanimously passed during the all-day special conference of appointed representatives of Jewish congregations and organizations in the United Kingdom were passed and enthusiastically acclaimed at a huge mass meeting held Sunday night at the Scala Theatre.

The hall was crowded to capacity and many were unable to gain admittance. O. E. d’Avigdor Goldsmid, chairman of the day’s session, presided at the mass meeting. The proceedings both of the conference and the meeting attracted wide attention and were the subject of comment in the London press.

Chief Rabbi Dr. J. H. Hertz, who moved the first resolution expressing the consent of the Anglo-Jewish community to participate in the Jewish Agency, referred to the Zionist developments and the struggle of the movement since the days of Herzl. “I am glad that Zionism has ceased to be an affair of a handful of leaders and a partisan question and has become the affair of united Anglo-Jewry.” Joseph Prag, vice-president of the Board of Deputies, who seconded the resolution, stated that this was “a great day for Anglo-Jewry and all Israel.” Col Samuel Finburgh, M. P., in supporting the resolution said that the government would have done more for Palestine if it had a solid, united Jewish opinion behind it.

Lord Melchett, in his capacity as president of the English Zionist Federation, read messages from Nahum Sokolow and Dr. Chaim Weizmann. He then referred to the Non-Zoinist Conference in New York under the leadership of Louis Marshall which, he stated, unanimously and enthusiastically joined hands in order to come into (Continued on Page 4)

The Jewish Agency under the Mandate is a body which ought to exercise a much greater and more important influence on the development of Palestine than it has in the past years. In spite of the good work done, the position of the Agency, as originally conceived, has not received that attention nor has its advice and counsel been sufficiently asked by those who look after the fortunes of Palestine. He believes that the reason is due to the fact that the Zionists were not speaking as a united Jewry, but as a section of the Jewish race. “The downfall of Israel was due more to the internal disputes than to outside action. The Jews ought to prove now that they have learned that lesson,” he declared.

“The Jewish Agency is not merely a plan, it is not merely a body to collect money. I hope it will never collect money, because this is not its proper function. The Agency is a powerful cause not only with access to the British government but to the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations. It has power to make its voice heard and its influence felt in the interests of the Jewish people in Palestine,” Lord Melchett stated.

“During the long road of troubles since the Balfour Declaration, some people have allowed their zeal to outrun their discretion, but now they have learned that Palestine is inhabited by Arabs with whom they will have to live on terms of friendship, cooperation and even brotherhood. I cannot see why there should be conflict between Jews and Arabs. It is unnecessary to attach too much importance to a certain resolution passed at a so-called all-Arab congress in Palestine. I believe that a great measure of the conflict is being stirred up not in the country and not by the people of the race but by outsiders for sinister objects. I hope that the Jewish Agency will now become a powerful and fruitful weapon to fight through the difficulties,” Lord Melchett stated.

“Palestine is today one of the most progressive countries,” he continued. “I believe that it has made progress during the last seven years more than any place in the world. After cities have been established, colonies replaced malarious swamps, the Jordan harnessed and cheap power produced, it is foolish to ask whether ‘this thing is going to be a success! It is a success. Are you going to participate in the success? Or are you going to allow people to take up the benefit of the success which you have made. This question wants solving fairly quickly,” he declared. “When I saw the electric power of Jerusalem in the hands of a powerful British firm. When I saw outsiders acquiring land, erecting works, inaugurating hotels and touring agencies which are very profitable, I began to wonder when the Jews are going to take their share in the development of the country. As a hardened business man, when Israel Zangwill approached me on the Zionist subject, I replied, ‘I will become a Zionist if Palestine is ever freed from the rule of Turkey. In 1921 I told Dr. Weizmann that if I find that the country is not going to be a success, I reserve the liberty to say so. In 1921, Palestine was a romance, in 1928 it became a proposition.

“Palestine has something which no colonies had before, namely devotion to service and a great ideal. However, the problem still open to be solved is one of method and not of principle. The upbuilding work is a slow task requiring patience, tenacity and courage. I am glad that Anglo-Jewry has taken the step uplifting its position in the face of the English people and the world. The entire world looks to a united Jewry to make a great success because the foundation is truly well laid.”

The speaker was loudly applauded by the entire audience which enthusiastically concurred in the resolutions. In the audience were many Zionists and non-Zionists. Among those seated on the platform were Lady Samuel, James Rothschild and Sir Meyer Spielman.