world, the only two exceptions being Warburg and Hantke—and there was no need for the Berlin Warburg to move about, for there were others who represented him.
Dr. Levin gave his sanction for the shifting of the center of Jewish gravity from Berlin to America, and “as early as August 30, 1914, a month after the outbreak of war, an extraordinary conference of American Zionists was called in New York.”
What this change of seat meant, has formed the subject of much discussion. In 1914 the Jews apparently knew more about the probable duration of the war than did the principals. It was not to be a mere excursion through Belgium, as some fancied. There was time to dicker, time to show the value of certain Jewish support to the governments. Germany gladly pledged the land of Palestine to the Jews, but the Jews had already seen what Wilhelm had done in that ancient state when he enthroned himself on the Mount of Olives. Evidently the Allies won in the contest of making promises, for on November 2, 1917, when General Allenby was pushing up through Palestine with his British Army, Arthur James Balfour, the British secretary of state for foreign affairs, issued the famous declaration approving Palestine as a national home for the Jewish people.
“The wording of it came from the British foreign office, but the text had been revised in the Zionist offices in America as well as in England. The British declaration was made in the form in which the Zionists desired it, and the last clauses were added in order to appease a certain section of timid anti-Zionist opinion.” (Guide to Zionism, pages 85–86.)
Now please read the declaration and note the italicized clauses just referred to:
“His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best