Montagu on the Balfour Declaration

https://x.com/KMPrimAcct/status/1736202142539542982?s=20

When Edwin Montagu, the only Jew in the British Cabinet, heard about the Balfour Declaration of 1917, he sprung into action writing a deeply heartfelt and logically argued memorandum opposing it.

While denying he feels this way about the government or the people involved, he declares that the Balfour Declaration is deeply antisemitic and harmful to Jews in England and elsewhere.

(I believe Jews at the time were generally opposed to Zionism in similar terms.)

He calls Zionism a mischievious political creed.

He points out that the original justifications for Zionism involved the oppression not in England but in Russia, which were no longer applicable with the new Russian government.

Jews headed to Israel may speak different languages, and have fought on different sides of WWI.

He says that Jews can't have it both ways, any English Jew who pines for Judea isn't really an Englishman, so the existence of a 'Jewish Homeland' will call into question the loyalty and nationalities of Jews in England and everywhere.

He points out that the creation of a 'Jewish Homeland' means that Christians and Muslims in Palestine will become foreigners and at best second class citizens in their own homeland, while Jews around the world become foreigners in the countries of their birth.

He asserts there is no 'Jewish Nation.'  It is no more true to say of Christian Englishman and Christian Frenchman are of the same nation.

He feared that the present inhabitants of Palestine would be driven out.

He supported the view that it would require Divine leadership to bring all the Jews back to Palestine, and he asserted no supporter Mr Balfour or Lord Rothschild was claiming them to be the Messiah.

He denied that today Palestine is mostly associated with Jews.  He said key parts of Jewish history occurred in Palestine, but the same is true for Christians and Muslims.  By singling out Jews, they are being put into a position they are not entitled.

There are about 3 times as many Jews in the world as could possibly fit into Palestine, even if you remove everyone there now.  So what happens to the 2/3 of world Jewry that does not fit into Palestine?

He says outsiders don't recognize the widespread antipathy of Jews to Zionism.

He and other Jews fear it will result in an explosion of antisemitism around the world, as Jews are no longer seen as fellows of their countrymen.  British Jews have done very well with excellent future prospects and this will greatly harm them.

He proposes that immigration to Palestine not be based on any form of religious discrimination, and the government should go no further.