Sir Martin Conway, a member of Parliament, lecturing last night before the Anglo Palestine Club, urge the Zionists to put in slow and hard work in the attainment of great results that are possible. James deRothschild presided.
It is always easier to regret the past than to appreciate the present, Sir Martin declared. Jews may still look forward to the future confident that the East will again radiate splendor for the world.
Sir Martin blamed the difficulties of the Arabs and the Jews on the British pledges that were made to both. The Balfour Declaration was emphatically accepted by the allies and also by Feisul in behalf of the Arabs. The pledge was discussed, deliberated and considered before it was given. The Arab pledge, on the other hand, was given casually, with no lengthy negotiations and no approval of the Powers. Both pledges were acts of war. Now, after the war, the situation demands careful management and Britain has a right to expect more from the advanced Jews than from the backward Arabs.
Continuing, Sir Martin said that despite the “unfortunate position” in which Zionists had been placed, Zionist leaders can be relied upon to overcome the difficulties created by the “faulty pledges” made during the war.
The speaker urged protection for Jewish capital, emphasizing that security was necessary if capital was to be poured into Palestine. Sooner or later, he said Jews and Arabs will be united in a common bond. For the present, the danger was that Zionist enthusiasm might slacken because of the present disappointment. What is necessary is the faith that great results will not be attained in a day, a week, a year, a decade, but only slowly, and through hard work.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
