It was not until October that Wilson’s equivocation was overcome by persistent lobbying from within his inner circle.78 In light of these overriding ‘political considerations’ Curzon withdrew his objections. Montagu was outvoted and the cabinet approved Balfour’s short declaration announcing Britain’s sponsorship of Jewish aspirations to a National Home in Palestine. It was despatched to Lord Rothschild as the presumptive leader of Anglo-Jewry, on 2 November 1917.
