New-York tribune., 1907-08-18
VAMBERY ON ZIONISM.
He Thinks Time Is Not Yet Ripe
for Colonization.

question OF Yonisn are Of as much significance as
| those of Professor Arminius Vambery, the noteo
Hungarian traveller and Orientalist. VINO is re-
garded as one of the talented Jews of his
Time and who has played an important role Iloiii
| the very inception Of the new political Zlonishi
Professor Vambery is friend and adviser OF 'iie
Sultan of Turkey. and II through his influence
that the late DR.. Theodore Herzl was first invited
to the High Porte discuss with Abdul Hamid the
question of granting charter to the Jews IN aes
tine Professor Vambery at one time a private
tutor Husain Da'im Pasha and later became
private secretary of Fuad Pasha- He is a meHioer
OF the Hungarian Academy Of Science, and ms
works OF history travel and politics on turkey aii
the Eastern lands and the Slavic countries FORM
| in themselves little library OF the most author-
.atiye writings these subjects
Professor Vambery in a conversation recehty III
o suburb of Vienna, where he is now staying
spoke freely of interest IN Jewish anairs gen
eraIly and In Zionism in particular He spoke
proudly of the that despite his crowded career
and the opportunities which have taken MN 10 'ie
highest spheres Of activity. he has always re-
mained Jew and retained strong interest IN lio
affairs of his people. He is believer In the resi-
ration of the Jewish nationality He told me OF ms
| friendship with DR.. Max Nordau' Heir 80
wolfrsohn and other leaders OF the Alols' -, -
ment and also mentioned his interest In the
| toralist movement, the head OF WHICH, 49, ~
| will, is also mis- friend
ATTITUDE OF TURKEY
He was asked what the attitude of the TURKISH
government toward Zionisnn
"Since the Sultan Abdul Hamd has been sit'ihs
m the throne" he answered. there has peeh ho
| Turkish government. that which Is cAlieo ~
| High Porte. The Sultan is everything ana he ~
| everything. The Sultan's study room is cro"ueu
with papers and documents that are sent iio'' o.
narts of his kingdom. The smallest thiis III ~
| Government passes through his hands
THE Sultan. of whom l have written at ieiis'
| In nv book The History OF MY Strusses' 20
great friend of the Jews but his loVe ioi ''i -
| no, ,,ninfuenced by his own interests: the Jews
are th. only non n-Maho1netan subjects of his gov
| ernneut upon whom he can depend Inc jews
| are themselves 10 blame If they do not get lhe
recognition from the Sultan which might nave peeh
theirs The Jews should have been more CLOSELY
| bound I'D with the country. There are soiIe Vi
them who have In Turkey for centuries anu
| thew still speak the language of Torauemada~
..yybat about immigration into Turkey? was
| asked Professor varnbery explained that the Id"
prohibiting immigration into the land sun preValis'
but that not being enforced and that' unaer
| these circumstances many Jews are now entering
/ the country.
would the Sultan permit immigration en- nasse
| into Palestine7-
| ,,o, =. the Jewish masses and he knows "i'"t
| such immigration do for the ceVeiopIhei1 "
the country. The Sultan would therefore welcome
the immigration OF Jews 10 Asia Minor ana Aleso-
| notarn,a These places are mostly populated oy
| A--,en,ons and the Jews would serve the TURKISH
| coxer-neut as a balancing power. There are large
stretches OF fruitful land that IS the property OF
| the Sultan. and he would be Wiling 10 give pa''
\ of this land to the Jews
| .eWould YOU encourage such emigration
| To this Professor vambery answered that he dd
| not particularly encourage such settlement WINE
the land very fruitful the Bedouins ana the o'her
nomadic tribes and the warning elements cast ont
| nv Russia would make the lives OF tho Jews
| unsafe.
| And why is not the immigration into and the
colonization Of Palestine by Jewish masses not
| agreeable 20 the sultan -
| .-Tne Sultan must reckon with the powers. when
| are not friendly toward granting the Jews CHAR
| .er. the charter may endanger the influence OF
| European powers in the East and may undermine
| their interests. Can you imagine "hat net Oh
| in,rigues were woven here by the foreign repre-
.enta,iyes when secured the sultan's consent TO
| receive Dr. Herzl?"
! -rBut may not the situation change within
| short timer
| HOPE FOR CHANGE SOON.
! r,-o,assor vambery explained that the present
| .,-,. ,n Turkey was not a favorable one. but that
| there were reasons TO hope for changes for the
| better The young elements were gradually oeihs
,rnb,ea with the spirit OF European culture, and
this would ultimately lead to reforms In the admin
| ,stration Thanks the influence OF Germany.
Asiatic Turkey would soon follow the pain OF EURO
| pean enlightenment. II was not true tla' III"
| Europeans sought TO destroy the Turkish govern
1 man
| OF that day when they would De iorceo lo ii'aho
| the partition OF Turkey. he said
| "ard uhat do YOU think. professor. OF the possl-
| ,ui.;es Of gaining concessions IN PALESTINE?
| concessions possible, and they would also
| prove to be useful. The granting OF some conces-
| ,,o,o hv the government would make possible the
| orcani.afon OF emigration commissions TO estao-
,ssh factories and open schools etc hut fof these
men ability needed and pelore hii' jews WIN
| should be good Turkish subtects-
| .you seem then, 10 think well OF the practicai
| ,rork of colonization in Palestine7
'It depends to what you Call practicai work
| Y do NOT shtnk IL would be a good thing to invest
| hia capital IN Palestine As lons as only small
| na-oa,s Of land are bought and purchases Of Land
a-e made which do not attract attention the turks
will tolerate but after time things may change
/ and everything may go TO nausht You Will found
o,y colonies bu. who will defend them against the
| poaou,ns7 Do YOU really think that zionism has
a,r.a unknown to the Bedou.ns. Moors and
A,rbs7 Z. is said that II is good thing for Turks
70 secure the taxes OF the colonisss but ask you
uho win defend colonlsts when the tax coiiec-
tore will 70 the coionists 10 TOD tieh aho W
| ertort money of them Illegally
| .st,,t what should the Jews do who from year TO
/ year u,ande - forth in masses from Rumania and
| Russia7
..yes things are really bad. But In spite Of that
| 7 cannot nRree that emigration en- masse TO Paies-
| tine would be 6 good thing especially as there is
| some opposition TO It on the part OF the Sultan.
| we ,nust for the present have patience and walt
| for a favorable moment. So long as my influence
| u,u stand for weight with the Sultan l am myself
ready TO defend before him the cause OF the Zion
| ist movement. And am ready also 10 give my
| unnnort to the Territorial Organization
SECRETARY STRAUS RTTURNS.