Hidden facts from the Mitford family archives. Talking of the Middle East, many think of Peter O'Toole and the famous Lawrence of Arabia. However, before him there was someone that also became the doyen of the British foreign office. Lawrence felt close to the Arabs and tried to create a pan-Arabic state, whereas Edward was driven towards creating a home for the Jewish nation. Edward Mitford was the first British high official to present a plan to the ministers of the British government in 1845 - well before Herzl, Balfour or Ben Gourion and before the Zionist movement took form in Switzerland in 1897 - to share Palestine with one of the most creative and industrious people in Europe. His plan ultimately led to the Balfour Declaration. It lays out the practicalities and process of achieving an independent state with regards to worldwide opinion, the position of Russia and other European countries and their influence in the Middle East. Edward died five years before the Balfour Declaration of 2 November 1917. Everything detailed in Edward's appeal and the plan he presented in 1845 took place and happened - it set the framework for the British mandate that followed in 1920 to 1948. His life and work is part of English history and cannot continue to be hidden from public knowledge. Today, Edward Mitford's great-great grandson, Hugh Mitford Raymond, author of The Mitford Family to be published in 2016, presents the untold story of the creation of Israel. The reason he has republished the work of his great-great grandfather is purely historical and far from any debate. Obviously times have changed, the situation in the Middle East is not any more the same but the text reveals the mentalities of the time and certain philosophies and the festering germs of later decisions. This book is a historic testimony of a project which anchors in time much of the current events even today. This book allows the reader to better understand the reasons of British presence in the Middle East, its politics and policy, its diplomacy, its implication and the responsibilities in the conflicts to come over a land promised to two peoples - so different yet so similar. Finally, the reader will not miss to draw a parallel between Edward Mitford and his quest to provide a homeland for the Jewish nation to the pro Nazi and fascist commitments of Diana and Unity Mitford, two of the famous, and infamous Mitford sisters. Diana divorced Bryan Guinness of the Guinness Brewery fortune to marry Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists and Unity became intimately involved with Hitler and his anti-Semitic ideas until her failed attempt at committing suicide, when Hitler sent her back to England via Switzerland.
About the Author: Original title written by Edward Ledwich Mitford FRGS (1811-1912) who lived to be over 100 years of age through the reigns of six sovereigns. He was 4 years old during the Battle of Waterloo and educated in Paris, France and excelled in languages, including French, German and Arabic. At the age of 18 years he became British Consul in Morocco until 1835. He then travelled 7000 miles on horseback, across 16 countries from London to Ceylon and became the British Consul in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In his time he was a specialist on the Middle East and wrote several fascinating books covering its people and culture. On retirement he succeeded to the family estates in Mitford, Northumberland and Hunmanby and Filey Bay in Yorkshire. Two of his sons, two grandsons and one great grandson went on to become squires and owners of Mitford Castle and estates. His youngest son Bertram Mitford FRGS became a well known author, writing 43 bestselling novels covering the history and culture of Southern Africa. Edward also served on the bench of Newcastle magistrate's court for many years. The remarkable story of his life follows in the book entitled The Mitford Family. Hugh Mitford Raymond is the great-great grandson of Edward Ledwich Mitford and nephew and cousin to the last seven squires of Mitford on the direct mainline of the Mitford family of Mitford, Northumberland since 1042. Born and bred in South Africa, Hugh grew up on the back of a horse and later went on to train and breed racehorses. He has served in the South African Defence Force completing active duties in Mozambique, Caprivi Strip and South West Africa. He also managed large farming operations in Zimbabwe. He speaks four languages and has travelled the world, including the Middle East, working for various international companies, along with IBM and United Nations. He has been resident in the South of France for the past 20 years. He is a member of the London Society of Authors, National Union of Journalists and Chairman of the South African International Association of the Riviera. The synopsis of his first book The Mitford Dynasty, to be published next year follows at the back of this book.