The Jewish outlook., 1908-01-24


again be restored, this vast North Al
RIGA holds tracts that have never yet
been developed, stretches down toward
a Sahara that modern science shows
not to be desert at all, but coun-
try with a great future; and Soudan
that turns out to be a country with
a great civilized past There is even
a country southwest of Morocco, as
large as England, with a splendid sea-
board, yet practically no-man' s land,
inhabited only by some nOmadic
tribes; and one Of the most romantic
episodes in the Ito's career was the
appearance in our Offices of an Arab
possessing influence with the Holy
Man of Adrar and anxious to obtain
concessions for us. Leaving Egypt
for the Egyptians, ask what other
people has so great historic claim
upon North Africa as the Jews?
Apart from our original residence in
Egypt. we settled all along the South
Mediterranean coast while Palestine
was still Jewish state, centuries be-
fore the Christian area.
Today in million square miles of
North Africa you will find only
twelve million people just the num-
ber of Jews. Fancy the Jews being al
lowed to monopolize million square
miles! But there is no reason why
they should not have fifty thousand.
That they are to play a role in civiliZ-
ing this vast region is an idea that has
of late been forcing its way into clear
consciousness But they must not re-
deem and regenerate North Africa
and leave themselves unregenerated
and unredeemed. What, however, does
our geographical commission say to
the territory indicated by us in this
region? Unfortunately, I can give no
full and formal report on that head,
because one of the commissioners, DR..
Paul Nathan, is travelling in the East.
out of reach. and will not be back till
the end of the year. But of the other
four. can tell you that none has dis
missed the territory as undesirable or
impossible Of acquisition. Lord
Rothschild. however, counsels delay.
He recommends "that in view of the
unsettled state of things in North Af-
rica. no steps should be taken in con-
nection with Jewish project at pres
ent." Mr.. Oscar Straus advises as an
indispensable first step the investiga-
ton of the territory by engineering,
agricultural and commercial experts.
Herr James Simon offers $3.50
toward the expense of such an inves-
tigation. DR.. Mandelstamm, while at
first leaning to some of the trans-At-
lantic territories in our blue book, fl
nally admitted that the North African
territory offers better chances of au-
tonomy.
On the whole, then, the commission
agrees with our council that here is
possibility worthy of the most Sc
rious consideration by the Jewish peo-
pie. The program, then, that lies be-
fore us, hope in the near future, as
soon as the Morocco episode is over,
is (a) scientific expedition to the
territory. and if the report is favora-
bic, as l have every reason to believe,
then (b) diplomatic and financial ne
gotiations. I may mention that the
Mayor of Stafford has just offered me
$3.50 toward the expedition. Should
we fail. however, in securing the nee
essary political safeguards here, we
have still the second string to our
bow, and if we fail again we must fall
back on the territories favored by DR.
MopIo1cfamm and flor tbeca n 70 ctill