New-York tribune., 1918-07-16
yews Want Lawmakers to
Put Selves ON Record
on Palestine Centre
3 Allies Have Acted
QUESTIONABLE Sent to All Rep.
resentatives by Bureau
Headed by Brandeis
.s,ecinr Dispatch to The Tribunc)


WASHINGTON, July 15.-The Zion
;st Bureau, of New York, Of which JUS
t;c. Louis D. Brandeis is honorary
r-esident and DIR. Stephen S. Wise
chairman, is canvassing Congress on
the Zionist question To each member
Of the House and Senate the following
communication has been sent:
"On November 21, 1917, the British
government, through the Hon. Arthur
! Balfour. Secretary of State for For
eign Affairs. declared its sympathy with
Zionist aspirations. saying:
"'His majesty's government view
with favor the reestablishment in Pal
estine of national home for the Jew
sh people ard will use its best endeav-
ors 10 facilitate the achievement of this
object, it being clearly understood that
nothing shall be done which may pref
udice the civil and religious rights of
non-Jewish communities in Palestine
or the rights and political status en-
loved BY Jews in any other country
"On February /. 1918, the French
government. through NJ. Pichon, gave
its indorsemenx to the British declara-
ton in q statement issued to the press,
IN which il said:
"Having seen NJ. Sokolow. l author
lied him to state, as regards the ques-
ton. our views were essentially the
same as the views entertained by the
British government. 1t was agreed
upon that Zionist delegation should
be sent 70 Palestine
Italy Approves Declarations
"On February 25. 1918, the Italian
government notified its ambassador
that it approved the British and French
declarations, and subsequently NJ, Ma
hum Sokolow, representative in London
of the Zionist organization, received
from Ambassador lmperiali the follow
ing formal statement of ltaly's atti-
.ude on these questions:
"'On instructions from His Excel
ency Baron Sonnino, his majesty's 9
Minister for Foreign Affairs, | have
the honor to inform you that his maj
esty's government is pleased to confirm
the declarations already made through
its representative in Washington, The
Hague and Salonica to the effect that
they will use their best endeavors to
facilitate the establishment in Pales-
tine Of Jewish national centre
"In view OF President Wilson'S ut
terance in favor of the rights Of the
smaller nationalities. which are to be
given the opportunity to determine
their own future, it is of interest, to
the Jewish people Of the United States,
10 be informed of the opinion of the
members of the Senate and of the
House on this important question.
eve, there fore. take the liberty of
addressing you at this time with the
following inquiries:
"Do you approve the declarations Of
England, France and Italy on the Zion
st question, as quoted above?
Questioned Concerning U. S. Action
Would YOU please let US have your
reasons for favoring the declarations
If You don't favor the views expressed
by the governments mentioned, please
let Ms have your reasons.
DO you favor action by the United
States government in line with the
British declaration, now or in the near
future?
"Do you favor the adoption of an
appropriate resolution by Congress in
favor Of the establishment in Pales-
tine of Jewish national centre?
What are your views in general
with regards to the efforts of the Jew
ish people to establish national home
in Palestine?
"We would appreciate your replies
to these questions, in the form. if pos
slble, of some connected statement.
This is to be published in book form
'or the information of the Jews in
this country, as we'll as OF the general
citizenship This book will be his
torc document on this important Jew
lsh question. and, when published, will
be most helpful in the successes of
the cause in which we are interested.
1t will be circulated all over the world
among Jews, as we'll as among non