Washington sentinel., 1898-12-17
ENGLAND.
THE FUTURE OF PALESTINE.
London S6setatOr.

! On paper no scheme looks better for
the future of Palestine than that which
is connected with the Zionist movement
Roughly, it IS that the Jews should be
placed in the Holy Land as the trustees
for Europe. They would hold jerusalem
and the rest Of the Holy Land under
! guarantees from the powers, and main
tain the status qN0. They would, IN
| fact, step into the shoes Of the Turks,
] ----s riOIu the balance larry UUtwv-r. -.
| different Christian sects-Greeks, Latins
| ArmenIans and Protestants, AS the Jew
| is, or at any rate is supposed to be-
| most unfairly we believe--never really
| an Englishman, or a German, or a
Frenchman, but only a Jew, he would,
it is urged, be uniuAuenced by any
national predictions, and therefore no
one power would be able to say that 1t
was unfairly treated. Again, there would
be a certain fitness in allowing the Jews
TO return to their own land after their
bitterness against the Christians had
oIed out, and after Christian auimosity
towards them, or at any rate towards
their creed, had ceased to be proies essed
by the civilized nations. Lastly, how
convenient 1t would be to provide
a place where the Jewish usurers and
petty traders who ere not wanted in
Europe could be shot bv the Govern
ments who do not desire to prosecute
any one tor his religion, bat who desire
to expel undesirable citizens" and
especially those who have hooked noses
and natural capacity for doing better
in commerce than the average Of their
neighbors In fact, the foundation of
an internationally guaranteed Zionist
State in Palestine would do beautifully,
and would settle the veNed question Of
who is to have the Holy Land when the
Turks go. Unfortunately, the scheme
is only good on paper and only accept
able by those who believe that the
world is governed By reason and not by
human passion, The Jews may be the
ideal caretakers Of Palestine, but they
will never act as such, because though
The various Christian seCts and the
Mahommedansh hate each other cordially
they all hate the Jews a degree worse.
The one bond of sympathy between
everybody in jerusalem who Is not
lew is hatred OF the Jews. that hatred |
being a concentrated essence OF religious
fanatic ism and race pref udice. The Jews
would require a tar grea ter military force |
than they would ever be likely to obtain
to keep the Christians and Mahomedans |
under proper control.
But if the Jewsare incapable Of acting /
as substitutes for the Turks, who can be
found to act as guardians OF the Holy
Places? An ingenious, but OF course
impossible, suggestion is that America
should be put IN to keep the peace. |
America is a Christian power, but not !
officially either Protestant or Catholic
or Greek, there being, oi course no State |
religion. Again, America IS not a |
European power, and therefore there |
would be less jealousy Of her. Lastly, |
owing TO the American missions and
the American College at BeyrOut, the
have a very large interest
already in the Holy Land. Needless to
say, however, the idea is absurd. No
power but England would agreee to ask
America to occupy Palestine, and even
if the powers we're unanimous IN their
request, it is as certain as anything can
be that America would refuse. In that
case, # and when. the Turks go, either
Russia, France, Germany or England
will become the possesscr Of the Holy |
Land. England may, however, be ruled
out, We do not want Syria, and would
not take it as a gift. We might not like
to see a strong power tn re; but as long
as we command the sea an invasion
Of Egypt from Syria is quite impossible,
and Il We do not command the sea we
have ceased to count as nation, and
shall not hold Egypt. There
fore, though we might grum5le, it may
be assumed that we shall never take |
Syria. There remain Russia, France,
and Germany. Ten. or even five, years ]
ago one would have said that France, as
he protector Of the Latin Christians and
with her socalled historic claims, would
carry the day. No one would
say that now. French influence in Syria
and Palestine has greatly declined. In
he first place, France has been too
busy worrying us about Egypt and other
places to be able to paw proper attention
10 her Syrian interests. What, however,
las had worse effect upon the position
Of France Ia Syria, has been the alliance
NTH Russia Won ranrDf ba ratrrtfvcr a |
Power in Paris and growing at the same
POWER IN Damascus and Jerusalem.
France had TO make herself agreeable
10 Russia m the Holy Land, and the
result has been an immens increase of |
Russian activity, and a corresponding
decline in French influence.
To complete the injury to French in
.erests came the rise OF German power
IN Syria and the Emperor's visit
Theoretically, no doubL, Germany has
also robbed Russia OF portion of her
power, but in reality the loss has all
been French. The Russian agents on
The spot we're, in fact, unafectedly de-
lighted 20 see the power Of the Latlns
as represented by France, SO successfully
challenged by Germany. While France
IS fighting to maintain her some what
vague claim TO be protector ofthe Latin
Christians, Russia is in a very business.
like way pressing the claims Of the
Orthodox Church, Of which she is the
and unquestionable pro
tector,