The Washington times., 1915-02-04
FATE OF PALESTINE
MAY Be LEFT. TO ], S.
When War Ends There Will Be
Grand Scramble for Por-
tions of the Ottoman Bird.

LONDON 10y mail to New York;.
Jan. D.-"Who is going to have Pales-
tine when the war is over?' Is one OF
the questions which is already begin
ming to worry the Allied Association of
New Map Makers, and the responsive
query. "shall It be the United states7"
10 receiving more consideration than. at
first thought. might seem possible.
Whatever happens to Germany and
Austria, the allies are determined that
Turkey shall be pushed completely on
the map Of Europe. and Off the greater
part of Asia Minor. and there will be
a rare old scramble for leg portions
when the Ottoman bird 10 carved.
Certain portions of the turkey have
already been hooked. England has an
nexed Egypt and Cyprus. and almost
will certainly insist on retaining that
part Of the Persian Gulf and Euphrates
valley captured by the Anglo-Indian
troops. Arabia won't be much use to
anybody, as Its inhabitants are a bit
too lively for Christian government,
and anyway, England could not afrord
to have any other nation planted along
the route to India. Russia will grab
most Of Asia Minor and northern Per-
oio, anu thC'c o"y ~ ib ohN
the Holy Land.
Palestine came under Turkish do.
minion In 1916. after the war between
the ottoman Sultan and the Egyptian
Mamelukes, and for 800 years the san.
culinary quarrels of the landed shiekhs
and the never-ending exaction of Orr.
entail grafters kept the country in q
state Of chaos and depression. In lS+l
the power Of the sheikhs was broker
and the Turks began to strengthen their
hold hIp although a fhey hQVa Hnna " II
for the Improvement of the country. the
blight OF Ottoman rule still oppressed
the land of milk and honey and
keeps fertile plains and valleys sterile.
At first sight 1t would appear to be the
simplest plan to grant the Zionist's ap.
peal for a Jewish state, but there are
difficulties In the way. II there were
the nuclei OF Jewish administration
in the country. It might be easier. but
there are not, and the Zionist movement
has not led to any great stream OF
Jewish immigration. There has beer
but little agricultural. political, or other
development among the Jews in Palcs
tine. and the Zionist leaders were. per.
haps. more impelled by the desire tc
restore the ancient religion in tho
Right here the Christian powers
would object strongly. Toleration has
never been marked In Palestine. but
with the Turks In control the hol,
ptdCcS "ciS at iSdSt N'pl ny HtutI dlS
Neither the Catholic Greek Orthodox
nor Protestant churches would permit
one denomination to obtain absolute
control over the places which arc holy
to them all. and it is clear that there
must be neutral or joint administration
A Christian state under British protcc
ton Is Englands idea Of the solution
on the ground that Great Britain ha.
had more experience In governing peo
pies of various races and creeds. bu
the other nations will naturally protes
that England IL grabbing more than hel
share Of the plumber
A neutral state guaranteed by all tn,
great powers. order being kept by. anc
the guardianship OF, the holy place in
trusted to-. an international gendarmerie
is another suggested solution. but re
cent experiences OF International con
troll. In Macedonia, Crete. Albania, etc
do not promise the elimination of fric
ton. Looking round. then. for an i'm
partial administrator. removed from tn,
whirlpool Of European politics and re
ligious squabbles the powers may fine
no more satisfactory candidates 70
the job than America. 1t Is pointed on
that the United States has for man,
years taken a leading part In mis-
sionary and educational work In Asi;
Minor, and no country has displayed
more enthusiasm with less idea Of per
sonal aggrandizement. Hence the pos
sibility Of the Stars and Stripes wavin,
ing over Jerusalem is by no means re
mote. according to international dope
sters' here.