New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15
AN INDEPENDENT HOLY LAND
There Should Be a Jewish Commonwealth
Under British or American Protection

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Many of your readers will be IN
torested in that paragraph of your very
scholarly editorial "Bagdsd-Mitteleuropa
which describes as one OF the conceptions OF
the Allies the creation Of an independent
Holy Land. / am therefore taking the liberty
of calling attention TO an article on this sub
iect under the title Egypt and Palestine
nublished in the London Quarterly Review
based on the great need which England has
70 nrotect the Suez Canal, and, particularly,
the Asiatic shore, whose present unsatisiac-
tory strategic situation can be solved only oy
bringing Palestine within the British sphere
of influence.
Palestine is a region of deep and abiding
interest to every people Of Europe inciudihg
within its limits sites sacred to Chrlstiah'
lew and Moslem. all Of whom have religious
representatives in that country, and 10 all
of whom security Of person and property Is
matter of first Importance. Hence, a stable
and lust government, whatever its complex
ion. would satisfy them. The three powers
whose interests are great are Germany,
France and Britain, but the jewish interest,"
in Palestine is greatest he Jews come u
that country intending TO cut themselves
away entirely from the past and TO MAKE
Palestine their only home. The story OF
Zionist effort in that country during the past
ouarter century is one of remarkable achieve
ment-the establishment of almost fifty sue
oessful agricultural colonies, the reclamation
If vast areas Of arid and swamp land, schooi
system running from the kindergarten TO tne
university; the founding of a complete oanh-
ing system. of urban settlements, the de-
velopment of foreign markets for the proc
ucts of the Jewish population OF Pales'lne'
the regeneration of a people sinking INTO
nersecution- caused degeneracy; the develop
ment Of Hebrew as a living language ioI
work, for play, for study. ;.
Indeed. so remarkable has been TINS de-
yelopment that another student OF PALESTINE
Sir Richard Burton, made this statement
"The Holy Land, when provided with ran
ways and tramways, will offer the nappiesO
blending of the ancient and modern worlds.
Il will become another Egypt, with the dis
tinct advantage of a superior climate, ana
ill., races of mon. Syria and
Palestine. | may safely prophesy, still await
the hour when the home OF free, STRIVING
and an energetic people, II Will again pou,
forth corn and OIL it will flow with milk ana
honey. and it will bear, with proper culture
almost all the good things that have been
given to men,
The quoted article is not the only one on
this subject. German writers are arguing
for a German protectorate over Palestine
Norman Hapgood. as recently as February
"a. argued for an American protectorate IL
is gratifying to notice that Mr.. Hapgood IN
dicates the Turkish attitude toward the jews
which. as he says, is free fl ON the preJudlee
against them that exists in Christian
countries. The Turks have treated the
Jews remarkably well. Mr.. HapSood thinks
that the establishment of an American
protectorate would eliminate Palestine as
a bone of contention on the part OF
the other powers, and would be de-
cided factor in the establishment OF per-
ranent peace for the whole world America,
he saws. is better situated to conduct diplo-
matte negotiations for a Jewish common
wealth than any other power, because we are
not the rivals of any other power in the Near
East.
Palestine has become "the order of the
day" and il seems 10 be almost certain that
the fulfment of the twenty-century long
aspiration of the Jewish people-as such
for the regaining Of their ancient and ms
toric home may well be the recompense when
they will receive at the hands of the nations,
for the twenty-fold Belgium they have SUI
fared since the outbreak of the war.
No,. Work March r. 1917. AM CHAl.