A declaration by Britain in favour of a Jewish national home in Palestine. It took the form of a letter from Lord Balfour (British Foreign Secretary) to Lord Rothschild, a prominent Zionist, announcing the support of the British government for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine without prejudice to the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish peoples of Palestine or the rights and political status of Jews in other countries. The Declaration subsequently formed the basis of the mandate given to Britain for Palestine and of British policy in that country until 1947.