World is with the Jews, Says Chamberlain

All the best elements in the world stand with the Jews in the face of the assault of Hitlerism upon them. Sir Austen Chamberlain, famed British statesman, declared tonight in an address at the annual dinner of the Anglo-Palestine Club. He voiced an appeal to Germany “in her own interests, not to impoverish Germany, like Spain, by expelling the Jews.”

Sir Austen was guest of honor at the affair over which James de Rothschild presided and outstanding Jewish and non-Jewish figures in British life attended. Sir Austen, Viscount Cecil, Sir Herbert Samuel, Lord Melchett, Josiah Wedgewood, Dr. Selig Brodetsky, Mrs. Dugdale and the presiding officer, in moving speeches, illustrated the difficult position of the Jews throughout the world, referring particularly to Germany as a misfortune and Palestine as a hope.

Sir Austen, after thanking Mr. Rothschild and Sir Herbert Samuel for their toasts to him and for their references to his father. Sir Joseph Chamberlain who, in 1903, offered Theodor Herzl, founder of the modern Zionist movement, the site for a Jewish colony in Africa, declared that “now a real national home for the Jewish heart has been found in Palestine.

“The most delicate task of the British government,” he declared, “is to balance the interests of the two peoples in Palestine. In time, the difficulties will be overcome,” he predicted.

WOULD BE IMPOVERISHED

“England would be impoverished if the Jews should allow their love for their spiritual home to diminish their love toward England.” the noted statesman declared. “Cromwell’s statue outside the British Parliament was presented by Charles Wertheimer in recognition of the protection of the Jews by Cromwell who declared, ‘great is my sympathy for this people whom God chose and gave the Torah.’ Cromwell’s welcome for the exiled Spanish and Portuguese Jews has left a deep mark on England to the present day. “England,” Sir Austen declared, “would not be England if she had not received the exiled Huguenots and the exiled Jews. Take away this characteristic from England and nothing remains of the British Empire.”

Referring to the German situation, the speaker declared: “Is it easy to cooperate with Germany adopting a policy shocking the civil conceptions of every Englishman, American or Frenchman? I ask of Germany, where can she expect to stand in the esteem of nations while in her own country people are living in bondage, while Israel suffers a new captivity in Germany. I appeal to Germany in her own interests not to impoverish Germany like Spain by expelling the Jews.

HEARTENS JEWS

“We would willingly meet Germany,” he declared, “but how is it possible with a country not tolerating her own citizens? I appeal to the Jews to be of good cheer,” he concluded, with emotion, “the best in the world support your cause.”

Mr. Rothschild, in his address, stressed that Germany had proscribed the Jews on a racial basis depriving them of equality.

“There are few among us who have not bleeding hearts for relatives or friends in Germany.” he said. “Many German Jewish families, associated with Germany for centuries, are preferring suicide to exile. The old generation is without help. All gates are closed except Palestine. I fear that the exodus from Germany will last for a long time and refuge must be found for them in Palestine.

PRAISE JEWISH EFFORT

Palestine can support a large population which would have ben incredible a few years ago, he declared. “The creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine will enable the Jewish people to enjoy the same status as other peoples.”

Sir Herbert Samuel praised Jewish effort in Palestine as “an example of Jewish idealism which does not allow itself to become materialistic even at the present time. Liverpool, Washington and New York are now building cathedrals,” he said. “In Palestine, something is being built not of stone, but of human lives which are willingly given.”

REFUGEES LOOK TO PALESTINE

Viscount Cecil, offering a toast to the Jewish National Home, said he felt the tragedy of the Jewish situation was “a nation with glorious history and culture, yet waifs and strays in all countries. There-fore, the Jewish hope at receiving back a national home is easily understandable,” he declared.

“Recent events have strengthened the Jewish claim. If you had a national home with its own government, it would have protected and safeguarded your interests,” he said. “For the Jewish refugees from Germany, whose number will probably grow, Palestine is the only help.”

Mr. Wedgwood declared that Balfour had visualized the Jewish national home “to redress the injustice of the Old World to the Jews.” Dr. Brodetsky, British Zionist leader, pointed out that more progress could have been achieved in Palestine if “stability and united patriotism had been learned from England.”

“England’s desire for balance in Palestine is understandable,” he declared, “but the great Jewish need must be considered in regulating Jewish immigration into Palestine.”

Lord Melchett, addressing his remarks to Mrs. Dugdale, the daughter of the late Lord Balfour, paid tribute to the British statesman and referred to the services of the Jews to England and to England’s contribution to the Jews through the Balfour Declaration.

Mrs. Dugdale, concluding speaker, stressed that England’s responsibility to the Jews had been increased “by Germany’s defection from civilized standards.”