From: bdm@cs.anu.edu.au (Brendan McKay)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast
Subject: MEQ #21 : English arrogance, 1917
Date: 10 Jan 1993 11:44:40 GMT
Organization: Australian National University
Distribution: world
Reply-To: bdm@cs.anu.edu.au
NNTP-Posting-Host: 150.203.23.70


      MEQ #21.  On the word of an Englishman it is true!

   ...
   On the whole, every signpost seems to point to the one end, every
   argument to lead to the one conclusion, namely---that Palestine
   should be annexed to Egypt, and thus experience those benefits
   of English rule which she has so long desired.  England alone
   would hold her on trust for the rest of the world---Christian,
   Jewish, Mohammedan; under her care Christian, Jew and Moslem
   would worship in peace and safety; by her every religious and
   national prejudice would be respected.  If France has Syria and
   Russia Constantinople, Palestine should fall naturally to
   Great Britain.  ...

   English rule has long been the ardent desire of the Christians of
   Palestine, and latterly even the Moslems have cried out for it
   under the ever-increasing weight of Turkish oppression.  About
   three years deputations of Bedouin from beyond Jordan---wild
   creatures who usually avoid the stir of towns---kept on coming
   in to ask the Turkish Governor of Jerusalem when the English
   were coming to take the Holy City.  The Pasha, considerably
   perturbed by this unexpected development, put them off with
   specious excuses; ... .  Three times these untamed men of the
   desert came; then ceased, in bitter disappointment.  Perhaps
   they thought England had failed them.  What had started the
   idea no one ever knew.

   About the same time a rumour arose in the city that five English
   generals were coming by the evening train to take Jerusalem.
   Half the city flocked joyfully to the station, many of the Jews
   even went down to Jaffa to view the landing, and when no one
   arrived the disappointment was really intense.

   We may smile at the simplicity of these people, but never at the
   real desire for liberty, the real belief in England, that lay
   behind it.  England is greatly trusted in Palestine, for the
   people now understand that all her institutions out there are
   wholly for their benefit, and mask no ugly political aim or greed;
   the common saying, "On the word of an Englishman it is true!"
   must make us proud each time we hear it.  English prestige has
   suffered a temporary eclipse of late years, owing perhaps to a
   restrained line of policy that was misunderstood by those to
   whom power must be shown in concrete form, but it has never been
   destroyed.  "On the word of an Englishman it is true!"

 Source:
   Estelle Blyth, The Future of Palestine, Palestine Exploration
   Fund, Quarterly Report for 1917, pages 81-91.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Middle East Quotes is an occasional series of quotations on Middle
East history.  The editor does not necessarily approve of the sentiments
expressed in quotes, nor will he necessarily join in any discussion
they engender.  Contributions are welcome but will not necessarily be
accepted.  Full sources are essential.      Brendan McKay.


Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast