Colonel Josiah C. Wedgwood, British Labor leader and member of the Ramsay MacDonald Labor Cabinet, declared in a farewell luncheon given in his honor yesterday at the Hotel Pennsylvania by leading American Zionists, that there could be no international spirit of brotherhood among the nations of the world as long as some citizens of free countries were kept in a semi-free condition. Zionism, with its goal of a rebuilt Jewish Homeland in Palestine, will create self-respect on the part of oppressed Jews and that respect for them which goes with being an independent and free people, he pointed our. It therefore paves the way for that international spirit of brotherhood among the nations which is the goal of all right-thinking people.
The luncheon was given by the United Palestine Appeal as a tribute to Colonel Wedgwood. Dr. Stephen S. Wise presided. Colonel Wedgwood, who has been in this country on a lecture tour, sails Sanday for London on the Zeeland.
“Great Britain is actuated both by humanitarian and political motives in espousing the cause of a rebuilt Jewish Homeland in Palestine during the war,” Colonel Wedgwood said. “Because England is close to the various Red and White rerrors in Eastern and Central Europe which have always turned into a persecution of the Jew, it realized the humaniarian benefits of aiding in establishing a haven for the oppressed Jewish people of these countries.” he stated.
“Palestine is not a Jewish affair alone, it is a joint affair in which the honor of England as well as the honor of Jewry is concerned. Palestine is therefore a happy combination of a movement which is essentially humanitarian and liberal with a desire on the pat of the English people to earn and deserve not only in war time, but for all time, the friendship of the Jewish people.”
Before and after England officially recognized and pledged its cooperation in the movement to reestablish the Jewish Homeland, a large section of the governing class of Great Britain were hostile to the movement, according to Colonel Wedgwood. The speaker said they opposed it on the grounds of increased bundens to the British taxpayer and because they believed Ghetto Jews could not be made into successful farmer colonists. “But the Jews have gone to the East, not as the Crusader to conquer, slanghter and impose their rule, but to provide good, to build up the country. The Jew has not attempted to injure the Arab instead he has helped to increase the Arab’s prosperity. The Jews are found in Palestine as producers as well as consumers and they have added enormously to the productivity of the country,” Cloned Wedgwood declared.
Over $?,500 was raised at a benquer held in Richmond. Na### open the United Palestine Campaign Mrs. Archibald Silverman and Dr. ### Ste###ch made stiring addresses. Max Fried###.
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