The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-02-04
WHO Will GET PAL
.ESTINE AFTER WAR?
BY P. M. ssrle

LONDON, Jan. 20 (by mail to New
/ York 81" 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 respon-
sive query shall il be the United
Statesfv is receiving more considera-
tion than, at first thought, might seem
possible.
Whatever happens to Germany and
Austria, the Allies are determined that
Turkey shall be pushed completely of
the map of Europe, and off the greater
part of Asia Minor, and there will be
rare old scramble for "leg portions -
when the Ottoman bird is carved.
Certain portions Of the turkey have
already been hooked England has an
nexed Egypt and Cyprus, and will al
most certainly insist en- retaining that
part of the Persian Calf and Euphrates
valley captured by the Anglo-Tndian
troops. Arabia won't be much use to
anybody, as its inhabitants are bit
too lively for Christian government,
and anyway, England could not afford
to have any other nation planted
along the route to Indian. Russia will
grab most of Asia Minor and northern
! Persia, and there only remains Syria
and the Holy Land.
Palestine came under Turkish do
minion in 1916, after the war between
the Ottoman and the Egyptian Name
lukes, and for 300 years the sanguin-
ary quarrels of the landed sheikhs, and
the never-ending exaetion of Oriental
grafters kept the country in state of
chaos and depression. In 1910 the
power of the sheikhs was broken and
the Turks began to strengthen their
hold, but although they have done
much for the Improvement of the coun-
try, the blight of Ottoman rule still
oppresses the Gland of milk and
honey' and keeps fertile plains and
valleys sterile.
At first sight it would appear to be
the simplest plan to grant the Zionists
appeal for a Jewish state, but there
are difficulties in The way. If there
were the nuclei of Jewish admins
tration in the country, it might be
easier, but there are not, and the Zion
list movement has not led to any great
stream of Jewish immigration. There
has been but little agricultural politi-
cal or other development among the
Jews in Palestine, and the Zionist lead
ers were, perhaps, more impelled by
the desire to restore the ancient relig
ion in the Holy Places.
Right here the Christian powers
would obejct strongly. Toleration has
never been very marked in Palestine,
but with the Turks in control the Holy
Places were at least kept by neutrals.
Neither the Roman Catholic, Greek,
Orthodox, nor Protestant churches
would permit one denomination to OBJ
tain absolute control over the places
which are holy to them all, and it is
clear that there must be neutral or
Joint administration. A Christian state
Great Britain has had more experience
idea of the solution, on the ground that
Vnder British protection, is England's
in governing peoples of various races
and creeds, but the other nations will
naturally protest that England is grab
bing more than her share of the plum
der
A neutral state guaranteed by all the
great powers, order being kept by, aud
the guardianship of the Holy Places
entrusted to an International gendarm-
erie, is another suggested solution, but
recent experiences of international
control in Macedonia, Crete, Albania,
etc, do not promise the elimination of
friction. Looking round, then, for an
impartial administrator, removed from
the whirlpool of European politics and
religious squabbles, the Powers may
find no more satisfactory candidates
for the job than America. 1t is point
ed out that the United States has for
many years taken leading part in
missionary and educational work IN
Asia Minor and no country has display
ed more enthusiasm with less idea of
personal aggradizerent. Hence the
possibility of the Stars and Stripes
waving over Jerusalem is by no means
remote, according to international
dopesters' here.