Lloyd George Defends Vigorously Jews and Zionism

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“No good ever came to any nation from crucifying the Jews” Lloyd George declares in a vigorous attack on anti-Semitism and an equally-spirited defense of Zionism appearing in an article by him in the London “Daily Telegraph” of today.

The Jews, says Lloyd George, are blamed for whatever they do or are. “If they are rich, the Jews are called vultures, if poor vermin. If they favor war, they are pro-war profiteers, if against war pro-peace cowards and traitors. If labor is oppressed Jewish capital is held responsible, if on the other hand, labor revolts as in Russia, it is also the Jews’ fault.”

“In strange countries, the Jews are pogrommed and in our own country, they are barred from returning.”

Passing to the Palestine question, Lloyd George says, “under the Jews, the country once numbered five millions, while under the Turks, the population was less than seven hundred thousand. The once glorious state has been spoiled by centuries of neglect but the country still has immense possibilities.”

“The restoration of Palestine,” he declares, was started not by the Balfour Declaration but by Moses Montefiore.”

“The Jews have turned the swamps of Palestine,” the article continues, “into valuable lands and by irrigation and reservoiring the rainfall, have converted a desert into a garden.”

“The Arabs share this prosperity. Arabs have neither means, energy or ambition necessary to do this, and the British are too burdened to undertake it.”

“The Balfour Declaration,” he concludes, “was not intended to expropriate Arabs but to enable Jews to come back. The Jews demand no privileges not enjoyed by the other inhabitants of Palestine. They ask only equality and an opportunity to peacefully upbuild a national home by their own exertions.”