"Bloody Balfour" and "Miss Nancy"
Christians mourned the Earl of Balfour last week, but those who actually wept for him were Jews.
Directly after the Earl of Balfour's death the Council of the World Zionist Organization met in London and its President, Dr. Chaim Weizemann, sought to deliver a eulogy. He broke down completely, sobbed aloud. In all parts of the hall prominent Zionists — including several British millionaires—first shed silent tears, then began to ululate in patriotic grief. For Zion's most potent champion, the author of the "Balfour Declaration," was no more. What would become of Zion? There have been signs that some Britons would like to economize by giving up the British Palestine Mandate (TIME, Sept. 9). The day may come when the Jews of resurrected Zion will be left to the fate their Arab neighbors are so eager to visit on them—as shown by the massacres last year.
"My dear Lord Rothschild," begins the Balfour Declaration, and the remainder of this personal note written by Mr. Arthur Balfour as Foreign Secretary on Nov. 2, 1917 is in the elegant and casual tone he took on all occasions, private, public and forensic. "My dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations, which has been submitted to and approved by the Cabinet:
"His Majesty's Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine."
What does this mean? Like nearly all the great pronouncements of this most British of statesmen it is susceptible of that interpretation which may best serve the needs of King and Country at some future time.
Does one wish to cast off Palestine, then plainly and explicitly the Balfour Declaration is a "declaration of sympathy" and nothing more.
On the other hand, should the interests of Empire make it desirable to hold Palestine, then the Balfour Declaration becomes a sacred pledge, England's word of honor that "His Majesty's Government . will use their best endeavors" etc., and naturally one cannot let the Jews down after they have built their Zion upon this rock.
Or a third course is possible. Some people think British officials in Palestine took it last year sub rosa, when they delayed interfering with the massacre of Jews by Arabs. Perhaps massacre is among "the rights of existing non-Jewish communities."
At least this great achievement of Arthur James Balfour, Knight of the Garter, Earl of Balfour, Viscount Traprain of Wittingehame, will long live after him. It is by far the most important document affecting the Near East. And very typical of the career of the Earl of Balfour, is the fact that he died in the estimation of Jews their greatest friend. He also died esteemed and mourned by most U. S. citizens, yet he did more to loose the storm of European hatred against "Uncle Shylock" than any other man.