Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-06-08
TURKS MAY LOSE
GRIP ON PALESTINE
Creation of Christian State With Neut.
rality Guaranteed by Powers
Advocated.
JEWISH IMMIGRATION is SMALL
If Project Goes Through, Hebrews Will
Not Be Excluded,
However,,

If Project Goes Through, Hebrews Will
Not Be Excluded,
However.
London.-"A land flowing with milk
and honey''-thus was Palestine once,
but today it is largely waste.
Will the present world struggle re-
suit in the new birth of the little cOun-
try where the Savior lived? A move
ment has started here to GUST the
Turks from the holy places-Bethle-
hem, Jerusalem, Lebanon and the
Mount of Olives, when the Mohamme-
dan masters and their German allies
shall have been soundly beaten.
This new state will not be Jewish
but will have plenty Of room for all the
Jews who wish to settle here. 1t will
be tolerant toward all religions.
The country came under Turkish do.
minion in 1916, after the war between
the Ottoman Sultan and the Egyptian
Mamelukes, and thereafter for over
300 years the history of Palestine has
been a record of sanguinary quarrels
between the landed sheikhs, and of the
oppression of the peasantry by them
and by Turkish officials. It was not
until 1910 that the arbitrary power of
the sheikhs was curbed. The Turks
then began to strengthen their hold,
and though much has been done for
the betterment of the country, the
blight of Ottoman Government has
continued to Cypress it.
Two alternative policies present
themselves in this urgent problem.
The German Emperor has taken a
great interest in Palestine and his
rather theatrical visit to the Holy
Land in 1908, has contributed to the
extension of German activity in the
country. There is the proposal of the
Zionists, expressed by Herzy, who
came to this country in the year OF
the Kaiser's visit to Palestine, that a
Jewish state shall be established in
that land. There is also the proposal
now put forward, that the country
shall now be developed into a Chris
tian state, guaranteed, perhaps, in its
national neutrality by the powers.
The Zionist movement, which drew
much of it's strength from the perse-
cutions of the Anti-Semites, and has
been inspired by race consciousness
and the idea of spiritual mission, led
to deep interest among the Jews In
the affairs of the Holy Land. Practic-
nally the movement took the form OF
Improving the situation of the local
i VS., but it embodied also the purpose
4 re-establishing the Jewish nation
I, the country. Lord Palmerston be-
/ anne interested in the plan, and Lord
3eaconsfield and Lord Salisbury sup
Ioorted Laurence Oliphant in his nego.
Citations with the Porte for conces-
ision. which might pave the way to the
establishment Of such State, which
Twas regarded as promising further
STRENGTHENING of the British route to
( India.
But the much advertised Zionist
movement has not resulted in any
great and continuous stream of Jew
ish migration into the country.
It is proposed, therefore, to work to-
ward the creation of a Christian State
in Palestine, as was formerly pro-
iected. or as an autonomous state,
guaranteed in its permanent neutrality
by the powers. Such political organ
ization would by no means exclude
Jews from the country, for it would
need to be, above all things, tolerant.
! hn or
not been the rule in the Holy Land.
An end must be put to the Quarrels
between various orders of the Greek
and Latin churches, which have not
been creditable to the spirit which it
desirable to elevate. There have been
Outstanding causes Of dispute at work,
the Russians supporting the Greek
monks and the Turks looking little
tolerantly toward the Latins under
French inspirations.
Should Greeks or Latins enjoy most
consideration? Which Of them should
enter earliest in the day into the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or
should have possession OF the great
Church of Bethlehem? There was a
disturbance in November, 1901, which
arose from dispute as to the right
to sweep certain stairs at the Holy
Sepulchre Church, after which the
Latin communities were assigned to
the protection of their national Con-
suls.
Such abuses have arisen from the
want of proper understanding between
the powers, and of any means OF set
Ting disputed points. A Christian
state established in Palestine would
be in a stronger position. Perhaps
preferable to the old idea of British
control, would be guaranteed neutral
state, all the great powers having rep
resentatives s the seat of government
Permanent neutrality should be guar
anteed, and order might be kept by the
institution of gendarmerie, with Off
GERS specially selected by the Powers.
Under a system of this nature all OF
the holy places would be very zeal
ously guarded and would never be
subpect to dissertations, either by petty
ouarrels or the intrusion of tram
WAYS or any other like visible expires
sion of the activities and advance
ment of modern life. There would
soon follow a marvellous development,
- q worry rich country which has sui