The Englishman

In August 1926, Jabotinsky published a remarkable article entitled ‘The Englishman: His Virtues, His Flaws’ in which he dissected the nature of ‘Englishness’ and related it to British governance, both in Whitehall and in Jerusalem. He distinguished the English from other Europeans in that they did not remain attached to a political position as ‘a point of honour’. They were not afraid of losing face in changing an opinion, were willing to laugh at themselves and elevated ‘muddling through’ to a permanent method of operating. England was a conservative country but also a progressive one because of a century of radical reforms. Yet bloodless upheaval brought about movements such as that of the Chartists and the General Strike of 1926. Indeed, Jabotinsky wrote that England possessed ‘an incomparably liberal colonial administration’.

I write for intelligent people and I expect to be understood. I do not say that all who have demands they want to make England agree to, must resort to violence, smash windows, make themselves a nuisance. We Jews cannot do such things, and if we did, it would not be any use. But at the same time we must not overlook the moral that emerges from the Suffragette agitation. What is important is not the method employed, but the essential fact, which is, that if you deal with England you must not take ‘no’ for your answer. Try again. Never give the impression that you have accepted the negative answer because the Englishman will interpret it as evidence that your need is not really acute.

He castigated those of his followers who wanted to confront England, ‘to threaten, to stamp their foot and beat their fist on the table’. He recalled the struggle to establish the Jewish Legion: ‘We did our work politely. No one was threatened, we never shouted down any cabinet minister. We never hit anybody.’ Jabotinsky concluded that ‘the Englishman with all his faults is the best partner in the world, for those who understand his ways’. The Englishman was someone who expected his opponent to drive a hard bargain, and this earned his respect. The Zionists, Jabotinsky remarked, would be in contact with the upper-class Englishman, the colonial administrator, for a long time. ‘I myself hope it will be for many years, for I do not regret the alliance.’