The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-08
THE ZIONIST
CONFERENCE
AT BASLE.

In August last. lie says.
| From the realization of traditional hopes
\ have been birthed n modern Germany.
| modern Italy, modern Greece. "In the
| realization OF traditional hopes, hopes
which come down 10 us from a hoary
| past hopes which have nerved US, which
| have inspired us with patience to bear
! and with courage to die, new Paies-
| tine shall be born" shout the Zionists OF
| to-day.
Never has history seen such a gathering
/ as that which assembled on the banks
OF the Rhine, I'm the old city of the three
kings, on the 18th Of last August.
Hundreds of delegates from all parts
OF the world were there to discuss plans
carefully prepared for the rehabilitation
Of the deathless nation.
Wonderful was the enthusiasm. Yet
It differed from that which drove the fol-
lowers of a Theudas or a Bar Coohba
TO dare the might OF Rome in mad effort
20 make their nation free. II differed
from that which caused thousands whose
hearts yearned for Messiah to end their
woes, 20 pin their faith to such adven-
turers as a David Reubeni and a Solomon
Molcho in the sixteenth and to Sab
batai Zebi in the seventeenth CEN
turtles. For was not the veal OF
tho world wound up IN the realization
Zionism, as portrayed in the Holy Book
Of lnsDiratons2
Intense was the interest when the presi-
dent. DR.. Herzl. opened the congress with
his address. Admirable was the tact with
which he swept away the objections
which have caused so many patriotic
Hebrews to hold aloof from his move
ment, for indeed 10 him belongs the honor
of its inception. THE same people who
reDroach US that Zionism creates new
barriers between mankind. find fault with
us for aspiring to the friendship OF Chris
tian Zionists But for US IL Is not only
mere question OF oDportunism when we
press the hand 50 cordially stretched
forth 10 us II testiies above all that
Ifonism possesses a power for reconci "a
ton. We hold firm 10 our Jul
daism. We are ready 20 bring
about the reconstruction Of Judaism; we
have everything IN abundance, men. ma
terial and plans. What We require Is the
soil. No one will deny that there
IS an unbreakable connection between our
people and this land. If there be such
a thing as claim to a part of the earth,
all peoples who believe in the Bible must
recognize the right of the Jews TO Pales-
tine. and they can do so without envy
and without fear for the Jews are not
a political power and never will be ONE
A sketch of the plans followed and
his speech closed amid earnest applause
proclaiming loyalty to the plans and per-
sonal regard for him. After the adop-
ton of "Order Of Procedure DR.. Max
Nordau assembled the tribune. 1t was the
author of Degeneration preaching Re
generation For this theme was the re-
generation Of all legitimate Jewish hopes.
Drill 1tF ha Yatrfa ba d
the Jews in all lands. Most POLITICALLY he
spoke of Zionisms awakening of Judaism
to new life. Judaism is Zionism
and Zionsm is Judaism. In our
camp IS Israel. in the other dead limbs
he exclaimed, parodying the words of the
poet GrillDarzer
Then followed the reports Of the com
mitees appointed at the conference of the
preceding year-the first ever held. From
them we learn that there are 9l3 Zionist
societies, that there is q cash balance
OF over $1,000 francs IN the treasury, and
it was made known that the first
years income was about el2,0oo, which az
the rate of a shekel for each contributor
means about $4,000 adherents And this
after so short a life. for this Is but the
second year OF organized Zionisml
At the next days session IL was an
nounced that 335 kilograms and $50 letters
had been received Then the PRO
gramme Of the Movement" and colonial
ton" reports were taken up. On tho third
day. the report on "the Colonial Bank
was discussed and the following recon-
mendations were adopted--recommend
lions which merit careful study and which
cannot but provoke admiration.
l. Under the name, Jewish Colonial
Bank" a bank shall be founded which |
shall be under the supervision OF corr |
p0ratiOn TO be appointed by the Congress. |
This body shall be charged with the pro- !
motion or the foundation OF the follow /
ing enterprises, I'm so far as they vi I |
yield a profitable revenue.
/. Creation Of industrial establishments |
both Of insurance and shipping COM |
panies, I'm the East Cthe words "cs- |
pecially Palestine and Syria We're !
subsequently added for the purpose Of i
utilizing Jewish labor
. The support of Jewish Agricultural /
Colonies by guaranteeing loans TO coli /
onlsts against mortgages securities |
or bills. and by the purchase and pur- /
ceiling Of land. etc.
g. Organization of export and import |
trade In Syria and Palestine by sup |
port of commercial undertakings
4 Acquisition of concessions for con- /
SlIuCluH OI 4Ddh1s NaA pti WI NO. /
mines and trade monoDolies In the |
East
s. Establishment Of or partnership In !
banks for the above-named objects
. In addition TO these enterprises. the 1
bank is empowered temporarily 10 utilize /
its funds for profitable undertakings of /
such a character that they shall not be /
locked up for any length Of time
The details will be settled by the Pre-
paratory Committee.
3. All speculative business Is on princi-
pie excluded.
4. The bank shall. according to circum-
stances and practicability, establish
branches in different countries
8. The bank shall be founded with
capital Of two million pounds sterling, IN
shares OF 81 each. On the estab-
lishment Of the bank the Preparatory
Committee is empowered 10 issue these
shares in part only. in proportion 10 the
number applied for
6. The seat of the bank is London.
T. The Preparatory Committee shall set
tie the constitution and management OF
the bank with due regard 20 the draft
statutes and to the wishes expressed 10y
the Congress. and shall in agreement
with the Executive Committee Of the
Zionist Congress make these the basis
Of the bank.
3. The Congress approves the election
IF a COMMITTEE Of nine members 70 make
preparations for the establishment OF the
bank.
This committee Is empowered 10 coop,
)ther members in all countries. with the
In "a 4