“palestine Only Practical Solution,” Lord Melchett Holds on Arrival

Lord Melchett, prominent leader of British Jewry, industrialist and author, arrived here today on the Western Prince from South America where he spent six weeks in a tour combining business with efforts on behalf of Palestine upbuilding work. He is accompanied by Lady Melchett.

Addressing a luncheon at the Lawyers’ Club, shortly after his arrival, Lord Melchett declared:

“Palestine is the only practical and reasonable solution of the Jewish problem. Palestine is not a sentimental nor a wild ideal. There is no use moving Jews from countries of oppression today to other countries where they may be subject to persecution in the future. There’s only one direction in which we can usefully work. We have our own historic home under the Balfour Declaration where we have rights which have been defined and accepted by the nations of the world.”

Referring to the present situation in the Holy Land, Lord Melchett said:

“We will have far more trouble getting in other countries rights for Jews which they now have in Palestine. Surely, the Jewish people will not permit it to be said, in returning to their historic homeland, they met difficulties and ran away. We have got to triumph not only for the sake of the Jews in Palestine but for the sake of all Jewry. We are on trial in the face of humanity.”

Lord Melchett, earlier voiced enthusiasm on progress of the Zionist movement in South America, particularly the Argentine. During his three-week stay in Buenos Aires, Lord Melchett organized an Argentine section of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, of whose Council he is chairman, and addressed several important Zionist gatherings.

He was met at Quarantine by a representative of Mayor LaGuardia, First Deputy Police Inspector Harold Fowler, newspaper men and a group of Zionist leaders headed by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise.

During his stay, Lord Melchett will, in addition to attending to business interests, speak in behalf of the United Palestine Appeal. He is to be guest of honor Thursday, May 20, at a dinner marking completion of the first four months of the Greater New York campaign of the United Palestine Appeal.

Lord Melchett, one of England’s younger statesmen, is a director of the Imperial Chemical Industries and other British enterprises. Recently he wrote “Thy Neighbour,” a book summarizing the Jewish position and enthusiastically endorsing Palestine as the only constructive solution of religious discrimination against Jews in various parts of Europe. The book, published here by H.C. Kinsey & Co., was well received by the critics.