File No. 763.72119/953
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5.45 p.m.]
7782. For the Secretary and the President:
I learn from an authoritative source that certain of the Prime Minister’s political advisers are anxious that he should persuade Turkey to conclude a separate peace and think that the recent military successes in Palestine make the present moment propitious for an attempt to buy offhand Turks. I understand that there is considerable opposition in naval and military circles to this idea for the following reasons: First, they consider that the Turkish Government are far too deeply in the hands of Germany to be able to make a separate peace. Secondly, the Palestine operations have not yet reached their fullest development. Thirdly, they believe that other powers such as France, Italy, and Greece have ideas of their own as to future of Asiatic Turkey which might be difficult to put into effect if the Turks made peace now and the consent of these powers to such a peace might be difficult to obtain.
Mr. Balfour’s letter to Lord Rothschild 1 regarding the future of Palestine has awakened great hopes among the Zionist Jews of this country and press dispatches indicate that it has been read with interest by the Jews of America. The Zionist feeling should no doubt be kept in mind. I should be glad of an intimation of your views on this subject for discreet use in the proper quarter should occasion arise.
- Nov. 2, 1917, conveying the following statement, approved by the Cabinet: “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”↩