Page 26 - Balfour100-E

26 War Cabinet 1917 Preparations ✡

Men whose beliefs shaped destiny: (from top left)
Balfour, Lloyd George, Montagu, Carson, Smuts,
Barnes, Bonar Law, Milner, Curzon and Henderson

In 1916 David Lloyd George became

Britain’s only Welsh Prime Minister,

with Arthur Balfour as his Foreign

Secretary. The War Cabinet he

formed included members from

the three major political parties

and from other parts of the Empire.

More significant is how many of

them were from an evangelical

Christian background. David

Schmidt has done the research

The War Cabinet of believers

ne hundred years ago, the men of the 1917 War Cabinet drew on ‘The return of the
their spiritual beliefs to assist the Jewish people of the world. The
O Balfour Declaration was not a random act of a desperate Govern- Jews to their Land
ment. It was a carefully considered political statement that reflected the
personal faith of most of the members of the Cabinet. was, “possibly the
David Lloyd George’s background Lloyd George liked to say, “The place
differed from that of most Edwardian names in Palestine are more familiar to most worthwhile
politicians. Raised in a village in Wales me than those of the Western Front.”
by his uncle, a Welsh Baptist pastor, Later in life, even when his faith seemed thing I ever set my
he had great sympathy for the Jew- largely sentimental, he never wavered
ish people. There, the teaching of the in his commitment to the restoration hand to do.”’
Bible was one of the highest values of of Israel.
society. As a child, Lloyd George was a Arthur Balfour was also raised with
prodigy in Welsh non-conformist Bible biblical teaching. His Scottish Presby- the Americans, “I am a Zionist.” A
competitions. During the Great War, terian mother prayed for him that he few months before the Declaration,
would follow a strong Christian faith. Balfour said, “Both the Prime Minister
David W Schmidt was born in As a boy, Balfour was tutored at home by and myself have been influenced by
Canada and has lived in Israel the family pastor. Balfour’s niece com- a desire to give the Jews their right-
with his wife Susan since 1989. mented, “Long before he ever heard of ful place in the world; a great nation
He has an MA in Middle East
Studies and a PhD in Middle Zionism, Balfour, steeped in the Bible without a home is not right.” When he
East History. In Israel, David has taught at from childhood, had felt a particular was near death in 1930, Balfour told his
Jerusalem University College, The Master’s interest in the ‘people of the Book’.” family that his work for the return of
University, and The University of the Holy Balfour was perhaps the most com- the Jews to their Land was, “possibly
Land. He has authored ‘Partners Together in mitted Christian in the Cabinet. In the most worthwhile thing I ever set
this Great Enterprise, The Role of Christian
Zionism in the Foreign Policies of Britain and 1915, when he travelled to the United my hand to do.”
America in the 20th Century’. States as Foreign Minister, he told A third member of the Cabinet who