J.D.B. News Letter

(By Our London Correspondent)

George Mitchell, secretary of the recently formed Palestine Mandate Society which includes prominent British leaders and statesmen, published in the London Times the correspondence of the sponsors of this society with Dr. Chaim Weizmann during August and September of last year. This was the first time that the correspondence had been made public.

A letter addressed to Dr. Weizmann while he was attending the Fifteenth Zionist Congress in Basle stated:

“We who sign this letter are, as you are aware, deeply interested in the Zionist Movement, and earnestly desire that the hopes and ambitions for the establishment of a National Home for the Jews in Palestine may be realized.

“We also entertain feelings of great affection and admiration for you, on whom so heavy a burden of responsibility rests.

“We realize that we can do but little to lighten this burden; the movement is a Jewish one, and we, though in it, so to speak, not of it. Nevertheless, as supporters of the Balfour Declaration, we feel it incumbent on us at this time to offer you and through you, your organization, our services for what they are worth, and in such manner as may be deemed appropriate.

“We believe that ‘Pro Palestine’ societies have been founded in several foreign countries, and we understand that the Zionist organizations there have obtained moral support therefrom.

“We know that the public in this country is still very ill-formed and often misinformed about the Zionist Movement. It may be that there is a work to be done in attempting to dispel this ignorance. But it is not for us to suggest the manner in which we can render you assistance.

“The purpose of this letter is to assure you that we stand ready and indeed anxious to give what assistance we can, having special regard to the limitations necessarily imposed upon some of our number by reason of the positions which they occupy in this country.”

The letter was signed by the Earl of Balfour, J. Ramsay MacDonald, David Lloyd George, Philip Snowden, Ethel Snowden, George M. W. Macdonogh, Josiah C. Wedgwood, Sir Wyndham Deedes, Blanche E. C. Dugdale. H. Sidebotham and George Mitchell.

In his reply Dr. Weizman wrote:

“I am deeply indebted to the distinguished signatories of the letter you have been good enough to send me for their assurances of sympathy and good will, and I would ask you to be so kind as to convey to them an expression of my grateful appreciation.

“Directly after the conclusion of the Zionist Congress, which is now drawing to a close, I shall be leaving on a short visit to Palestine, but I expect to be back in London towards the end of the year, and I shall then look forward to an opportunity of meeting those who have identified themselves with this movement, and of thanking them, on my own behalf, and on that of my colleagues, for the action they have taken at a moment when encouragement from such a source is particularly timely and welcome.”

Arising out of this correspondence there was formed the “Palestine Mandate Society,” the presidency of which has been accepted by Lord Cecil of Chelwood. This society consists of a number of non-Jewish British subjects. Its object is to make known throughout the British Empire the steps which are being taken to give effect to the co-partnership created between the British Empire and the Zionist Organization in accordance with the terms of the mandate for Palestine conferred upon his Majesty’s Government by the Council of the League of Nations in 1922, the secretary stated.