The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-11
fURxBY AND ZEE JBWA

A Hntsrsssans Istsrseeaessa Cs0psssesseo.
HAIYA, Jan. 1a-It was from Carmel that
In times OF old o small cloud was seen rising
not bigger than mans hand. which overcast
the heavens and II IL not impossible that DO
litical incident which has just occurred hore may
provo the diplomatic commencement OF
storm OF another kind pregnant with untold
issues. II We look back through history
ct the origin OF some Of its greatest events
we often almost fail to discover them. on ac-
count OF their insignincanoe. When the moral
atmosphere IL charged with electricity. tneeds
but spark to produce the shock; and so 1t is
just possible that the silly act Of an indiscreet
Caimacan may open up questions which. II
the Turkish Government had been wisely ad-
vised. II would have shrunk from raising.
A. I informed you ct the time. somo six
months ago. when the Russian persecution OF
the Jews was at It's height. and an enthusiastic
agitation was set on foot throughout the CONT
mont for wholesale emigration to Palestine "a .
place OF refuge. tho Ottoman Government.
alarmed lest tho influx OF several hundred
thousand Israelites into q single province OF
tho empire might give rise to . now nationality
question. instructed Its consular agents In
Russia to give passports only to such Jews de-
string to emigrate as should In the FIRST place.
promise to become Turkish subjects. and. In the
second. engage not to settle In Palestine.
This measure. succeeded by the fall OF 1gna-
tieff from offico. and tho milder policy adopted
by his successor Count Tolstoi. induced tho
Russian Jews. temporarily. at all events. to
abandon their colonization projects. and /
think they exercised wise discretion In doing
so. The Roumanian Jcws however. not be-
Loving that tho prohibition applied to them.
and being subject to the most cruel oppres-
sion In their own country. decided at
all hazards to carry out tho project upon
which they had set their hearts Of form
ing agricultural colonies in Palestine. One
OF these in progress OF development described
to you not long ago. Since my visit on that
occasion about thirty men have got to work on
the land. and are busily engaged In filling the
soil. They found that their arrival In the
country was attended with difficulty owing to
the orders which had been issued against the
admission Of emigrants. but all obstacles were
finally overcome BY FREQ use OF backsheesh
and the Roumanian committees fondly hoped
that they might continue their colonization
schemes without meeting with any difficulties
which might not be overcome by this all-power-
full agent: but there 10 limit to the efficacy Of
bribery even In Turkev.
The fact that Jews were beginning to land
without hindrance and establish themselves
ON the soil got to the ears Of the higher au-
thorities. and the local officials at the ports In
Palestine were warned that there must be an
end to this Illicit landing Of Hebrews. Whom.
therefore. the last steamer arrived hero with
100 Jews on board. OF whom six or seven fam
lilies were Roumanian emigrants. the Cal
maoan at once issued an order against their
landing. and the usual backsheesh was Alto
gether unavailing. But. unfortunately. 1t 80
happened that. besides the Roumanian emil
Dali ~
subjects ON board Of the Jewish per-
suasion. In his zeal or alarm. the Turk
ish official also prohibited them from
landings. satisfying tho rsmonstrances Of
the Austrian and British Vice. Consuls with
the assurance that II 1t was true that they had
SUBJECTS Of their nationalities ON board. tho
mistake should BIO remedied on tho return Of
tha ve..ei from Iley..ont. A. the steamer az
rived late at night. In the midst Of storm and
darkness. and only remained two hours. lying
a long way from tho shore. 1t was impossible
to verify the facts. The Australian Lloyds
agent brought two poor women on shore In q
pitiabls condition in optic OF tho efforts Of the
police TO prevent him. and then the steamer
went on It's way with 1870 other uniortunates.
These were mostly deck passengers. A violent
storm came on. and for i've days they were
bufReted about of Beyrout. the ship flnall y
taking shelter OF the coast little beyond that
town.
Here Rustem Pasha. tho Governor OF the
Lebanon. took compassion on three families.
and landed them In his jurisdiction. The Cap
tain kept them alive with ships biscuit. and
put Thorn In the hold for shelter. Finally the
steamer got back hero. but in the mean time
the Caimacan had issued circular to all the
foreign consular agents to inform them that NO
a iah trra wpfA -
DO allowed to land in pursuance OF an order
no had received from the Governor General at
Damascus. The American yice-Consul is in
possession OF . COPY OF this document. and 1t
will b now to jews who are American ciIizens
to be told that By an order OF the Turkish Gov
eminent they will be prohibited from setting
foot on tho soil Of Palestine; but moro than
this. tho authorities seem to have made w
their minds that all Jews must be emigrants.
Now. It 20 happened that among tho jewish
passengers on board the steamer there were
largo number who wore not emigrants: there
was IN English passenger. jewish rabbi from
Bombay. who was going on visit to Jeruss-
lem: there were some Jews Of Tiberius travel
ling with British passports and under British
protection. who had gone overland to Deyrout,
and were returning to their homes by sea
there wsre ex-soldiers Of the Austrian army
who had done their twenty years service;
there was merchant ON his way to
Egypt. who simply desired TO say q fow
words to his Consul. but who. whom he
reached the wharf. was not allowed to
set foot on It, but sent back to his ship; and
many other non-emigrnnt passengers. The
British Vice-Consul determined at first to 20
on board himself and bring them of, but he
was informed that he would be met by forco.
and police were stationed on board to prevent