Churchill, Palestine and Zionism, 1904-1922 - Douglas J. Feith

Palestine and Zionism, 1904-1922 249
Churchill and Samuel thought they could avert needless provocation of
the Arabs by dispensing with talk of a future Jewish majority. Churchill
was continually pressed to explain what "national home" meant, and
he was nearly always careful to keep the illumination dim. A rare occasion
when he revealed his true expectation was the 22 June meeting of
the imperial cabinet, at which he described the Balfour Declaration as
an obligation incurred in wartime "to enlist the aid of Jews all over the
world" and warned that Britain must be "very careful and punctilious"
in discharging its obligations yo Churchill was asked by the Canadian
prime minister whether the phrase "national home" meant giving the
Jews "control of the Government." He replied, "If, in the course of many
years, they become a majority in the country, they naturally would take it
over."l11 No Arab or Jewish delegation ever received so direct an answer
on this point from Churchill. 112
Fearful that Samuel's 3 June speech portended the undoing of the
Jewish national home policy, Weizmann traveled to London in early July.
He met with Churchill and told him that the Palestine administration and
the government had placed the Jews in "a vicious circle":
On the one hand, they complain about Zionism being the burden of the British
tax-payer, and when we desire to lighten this burden by developing Palestine and
so increasing the wealth and productiveness of the country, they refuse to let us
go on with our work because they are fearing an Arab outburst. ll3
On the one hand, they complain about Zionism being the burden of the British
tax-payer, and when we desire to lighten this burden by developing Palestine and
so increasing the wealth and productiveness of the country, they refuse to let us
go on with our work because they are fearing an Arab outburst. ll3
The two men met again on 22 July at Balfour's home together with
Balfour, Lloyd George, and the secretary to the cabinet. According to the
minutes of the meeting, Weizmann condemned Samuel's 3 June speech as
the "negation of the Balfour Declaration" because the latter meant a
Jewish majority but "this speech would never permit such a majority to
eventuate." Churchill "demurred at this interpretation of the speech."
or tolerate interference. It is absurd to talk of injustice to the Arab and eviction of the
original landowners. Those arguments show a complete lack of appreciation of the Zionist
movement. Zionism will injure none, on the contrary it will benefit the whole community.
It is not going to dispossess the Arab or interfere with his political or religious susceptibilities."
Meinertzhagen, Middle East Diary, 101-2 (July 5, 1921, entry).
110 Gilbert, Exile and Return, 135. 111 WSC IV 617.
112 At the August 1921 colonial office meeting with the Palestine Arab delegation, the
delegation secretary asked Churchill: "Did you promise that you will help them [the
Jews) to make Palestine a Jewish State, a Jewish Kingdom?" Churchill gave his typically
evasive answer: "[Samuel) has expressed very very clearly what is his interpretation of
Mr Balfour's pledge. It undoubtedly is intended [that) the Jews shall be allowed to come
freely into Palestine in proportion as there is room, and there is a good livelihood,
provided of course they develop the resources of the country." WSC IV C 1599.
113 WSC IV 619.