The scheme, which had been proposed to Herzl by Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary in Balfour's Cabinet, following his trip to East Africa earlier in the year, had been subsequently voted down following Herzl's death by the Seventh Zionist Congress in 1905 after two years of heated debate in the Zionist Organization.
Skema tersebut, yang diusulkan kepada Herzl oleh Joseph Chamberlain, Menteri Kolonial dalam Kabinet Balfour, menyusul kunjungannya ke Afrika Timur sebelum tahun tersebut, kemudian diurungkan setelah Herzl wafat oleh Kongres Zionis Ketujuh pada tahun 1905 setelah dua tahun perdepatan panas di Organisasi Zionis.