News Brief

“Lord Melchett, while being an outstanding British statesmen and one of the greatest industrialists in England was to us Jews an inspiring leader, staunch, courageous and of far-sighted vision,” said a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency by A. J. Freiman, president of the Canadian Zionist Federation. “The loss that we have sustained in his death is irreparable.”

Leaders of American Jewry united in expressing their sorrow at the death of Lord Melchett, who was known to many of them as a personal friend as well as a co-worker in the Zionist cause.

Robert Szold, president of the American Zionist Organization, said, “I am greatly shocked. The loss of Lord Melchett to Zionism is most sharply felt at this time, in view of his very firm attitude toward the government in the recent political crisis and of his wide political power. Though his love for Palestine found such expression that his name will go on living in Palestine even after his death, his departure, from us as an actual force is strongly felt, for he was intensely interested in the upbuilding of Palestine, and gave liberally of his time, energy, and money in working for Zionism.”

Dr. Lee K. Frankel, vice-president of the Metropolitan Insurance Co., member of the administrative committee of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, was a member of the non-partisan Palestine Survey Commission which met several years ago at the home of Lord Melchett. Lord Melchett was chairman of that commission, among whose members were Felix Warburg, Lord James de Rothschild, Dr. Chaim Weizmann and the late Louis Marshall.

DEVOTION TO PALESTINE

“For a week, we were the daily guests of Lord Melchett,” said Dr. Frankel. “At no time could be better appreciated his splendid personality, his remarkable clear-mindedness, and amazing fund of information. At that meeting, the basis for the organization of the Jewish Agency was drafted. As we worked together, we came to know how deep and undying was Lord Melchett’s interest in his people, and in the upbuilding of Palestine. His death is the loss of a great personality to the world.”

Felix M. Warburg, another member of that memorable committee, and resigned chairman of the administrative committee of the Jewish Agency issued a statement through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I am unspeakably shocked at the news of the death of this wonderful friend,” he said. “Humanity loses a splendid character and a great heart. Jewry loses an extraordinary, generous idealist; Britain, a most patriotic citizen.”

Bernards G. Richards, executive director of the American Jewish Congress, cabled a message of condolence to the family of Lord Melchett in behalf of Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Honorary President of the Congress, Bernard S. Deutsch, president, and of the director:

“In the passing of Lord Melchett, Great Britain is deprived of an industrial and political leader of immense personal force, great vision and unparalleled resourcefulness, and the Jews not only of England, but of the whole world are bereft of a champion and spokesman who brought all the weight of his great influence, his rare foresight and boundless courage to bear upon the historic task for the Jewish rehabilitation of Palestine and upon all efforts for the defense of the legitimate interests of the Jewish people.

“When Palestine most needed guidance with regard to problems of economic advancement, he appeared and freely offered the benefit of his wide industrial experience, his knowledge of all phases of colonization and reconstruction, giving as freely of his means, as well as of his time, energy, and social influence,” says the message.

SEVERE BLOW, SAYS NEUMANN

“More memorable than all the gifts which flowed from his zealous espousal of the Zionist cause will forever remain the knowledge of his unshakable, brave and insistent demands of the full rights of the Jews in connection with the pledges which had been made to them in the Balfour Declaration and in the Mandate over Palestine, granted to Great Britain by the League of Nations.