Summary
Zionist leader whose speech at the Albert Hall, London, on 12 July 1920 is printed as a front-matter epigraph in Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace as an early, explicit statement of the pact between Zionism and Britain: guarding the Suez Canal and the route to India in exchange for being allowed to become strong (Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace, PDF p.12).
Details
- The gathering was attended by 12,000 people, including Balfour, the Marquess Crewe, Lord Robert Cecil, other members of the English government and Members of Parliament; Weizmann and Sokolov spoke before Nordau, reiterating the phrases they had used for three years (PDF p.12).
- Nordau told the ministers present that in a moment of danger during the World War Britain thought the Jews could be useful and made promises — the Balfour Declaration — that could be interpreted in a satisfactory way; “We made a pact with you” (PDF p.12).
- “We are to stand guard over the Suez Canal for you. We will be the sentry on the route to India, which passes through the Near East. We are willing to provide this difficult military service, but it is vital that you permit us to become strong enough to fulfill our mission. Loyalty for loyalty! Faithfulness for faithfulness!” (PDF p.12)
- The speech is cited from Nordau, Testament to Zionism, in Zionist Writings, published by the Zionist Library beside the head office of the Zionist Organization, Jerusalem, 1961/62, book 4, p.203 (PDF p.12).
Related pages
Peace, Peace, When There Is No Peace, Theodor Herzl, Balfour Declaration, Chaim Weizmann