ABSTRACT
The quest for a Jewish state was set in motion by the events of the nineteenth century. Following the inspiration of early Zionist leaders, the First Zionist Congress met on 29 August 1897 in the Great Hall of the Basle Municipal Casino under the leadership of Theodor Herzl. Subsequently Herzl cultivated important figures in Turkey, Austria, Germany and Russia to further his plans. In 1902 Herzl appeared before the Commission, declaring that further Jewish immigration to Britain should be accepted but that the ultimate solution to the refugee problem was the recognition of the Jews as a people and the finding by them of a legally recognized home.
