Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-03-25
JEWISH PERSONALITIES
IN BRITISH POLITICS


British politics during the last sew
enty years have been greatly en-
riched by the services Of prominent
Jews. AT the present time the most
active and well known Is undoubtedly
Sir Alfred Mond, who wields a great
cr political influence than any man Of
his race since the great Disraeli. Sir
Albert has been in Parliament al
most continuously since 1905. and in
the Coalition Government held high
Office. In spite of his very rigorous
views on Free Trade he has always
had the respect of the Conservatives,
and on the breakup Of the second
Coalition Government he could have
accepted very high office if he had
thrown in his lot with the Conserva-
ties. 1t is much to his credit that his
political principles prevented him
from taking this step until only
few days ago.
At heart Liberal and pro-
nounced individualist, he is typical
representative Of the old-fashioned
Radical of the Manchester school,
now nearly extinct Between Sir AL
fred Mond and Mr.. Lloyd George
there was a close bond for many
years. Their very Emergencies Great
ed strong combination of the two
men so very far opposed in their men
tai makeup. Lloyd George is all
imagination, sentiment and imbued
with burning ardour for the cause
he is Immediately advocating. Sir AL
fred Mond, on the other hand while
by no means devoid of sentiment, has
an intensely practical brain and re-
fuses to overlook the difficulties and
obstacles in the way OF any plan he
wishes to accomplish. In the present
House of Commons Sir Alfred Mond
is the most proficient opponent of So
cialism and Collectivism. By far the
best speech on the anti-Socialist side
in the now famous Debate in the Par
lament of 1922-23 was that made by
Sir Alfred Mond; and as they went
through the Division Lobby in oppo-
sition to the motion moved by Ar.
Philip Snowden on that occasion,
many Conservatives were heard de-
ploring the fact that Sir Alfred Mond
was only their temporary ally in this
battle and not their permanent asso-
ciate. For sheer intellectual gifts
Mond has no superior in the present
House of Commons. One of the
causes he has at heart is the fulfil
ment of the Zionist program in Pal
estine, and he approaches it from the
standpoint of a Captain of Industry
and a great leader of business. In
spite of the crossing of the floor by
Sir Alfred Mond his advocacy of the
Zionist program may be relied upon
now and in the future. His political
future with the Conservatives is
hardly in doubt. The Prime Minister,
Mr.. Baldwin, has few such expert
enced administrators and men of af-
fairs to draw upon, and he is sure of
high Cabinet rank without very long
delay.
His son, Henry Mond, follows his
father in change of allegiance, and is
now to be numbered among the Con-
servatives. Young Henry Mond is a
product of our public school and uni
versity system. During the one year
that he was in Parliament he showed
brilliant promise. But he will have to
wait his turn. In politics, youth is
only an asset for the future, especial
ly in the conservative party, and
young Mond has not even seat in
Parliament. Were he there now, he
would only be one of crowd of
young men of promise, but his time
will come and he should go far