WASHINGTON'S ROLE

Messages and Papers of the Presidents

1935 Edition, Volume XVIII, Page 8575

LETTER ENDORSING ZIONIST MOVEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C., September I, 1918

MY DEAR RABBI WISE:

I have watched with deep and sincere interest the reconstructive work which the Weizmann commission has done in Palestine at the insistance of the British Government, and I welcome an opportunity to express the satisfaction I have felt in the progress of the Zionist movement in the United States and in the allied countries since the declaration by Mr. Balfour, on behalf of the British Government, of Great Britain's approval of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and his promise that the British Government would use its best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of that object, with the understanding that nothing would be done to prejudice the civil or religious rights of non-Jewish people in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in other countries.

I think that all Americans will be deeply moved by the report that even in this time of stress the Weizmann commission has been able to lay the foundation of the Hebrew University at Jerusalem, with the promise that that bears of spiritual rebirth.

Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise,
New York City.