Balfour stated in February 1919 that Palestine was considered an exceptional case in which, referring to the local population, "we deliberately and rightly decline to accept the principle of self-determination," although he considered that the policy provided self-determination to Jews.
Balfour declarou en febreiro de 1919 que Palestina se consideraba un caso excepcional no que «deliberadamente e con razón nos negamos a aceptar o principio de autodeterminación», aínda que considerou que a política proporcionaba autodeterminación aos xudeus.