WEDGWOOD, JOSIAH.

A great-great-grandson of the famous potter, the parliamentarian Lord Josiah Wedgwood (1872-1943) was one of the leading Anglo-Christian advocates for Jewish causes. A vocal and forceful supporter of Zionist ambitions from early on - he was one of the original proponents of the Balfour Declaration - he later agitated publicly on behalf of Jewish victims of the Nazi onslaught. Lord Wedgwood was particularly close to the Revisionist leadership and criticized the Zionist establishment for taking a moderate stand in regard to the British. His support for ‘illegal’ immigration and other Zionist underground activities (including militarism) put him at odds with his Government to the point that he risked being prosecuted for incitement. Wedgwood’s friendship has been recognized by the State of Israel by naming a town, streets in the major cities and a naval warship in his memory. The present lot contains an archival snapshot of Wedgwood’s activities in the years 1938-39, with a particular emphasis on Jewish matters, including correspondence with various Zionist leaders. In the draft of an address to the Government he stressed that the restoration of order in Palestine was paramount; separately in a memorandum he encouraged Weizmann to face the British with the “threat of force … Show them that there will be trouble.” In another letter to Weizmann Wedgwood urged the Zionists to conduct illegal immigration and let the British know that “the Jews of Palestine will resist by every means … We cannot hope to help those who do not dare to help themselves … Neither Churchill nor I will raise a finger unless you and your people show courage and take risks on yourselves.” The British reaction to Wedgwood is possibly hinted at here as well. One correspondent noted, “I can only hope that you will not involve us in high treason against His Majesty’s present Government. If even so large hearted and tolerant monarchs as the Stuarts were in power today you would long since have lost your head on Tower Hill.” Another letter from the English Speaking Union (New York branch) expressed satisfaction that Wedgwood would address them but noted, “it might be well to omit racial subjects.” See Paul Mulvey, The Political Life of Josiah C. Wedgwood (2010); Joshua B. Stein, Our Great Solicitor: Josiah C. Wedgwood and the Jews (1992).