New-York tribune., 1918-12-23
Jewish Republic
Plans to Get Title
TO Palestine Lands
Ownership of All Valuable
City and Industrial Plots
Will Remain With State,
Under Scheme Adopted

The possibility of the taking over
OF Palestine by the Jewish people in
the near future under the trusteeship Of
Great Britain has given rise to con-
lecture as to how the expected immigra-
tion would be received and distributed
over the land. A plan, proposed by
Bernard A. Rosenblatt, New York
lawyer and honorary seretcary of the
Aolnlst organization, has been accepted
by that body
"Palestine to-day" Mr. Rosenblatt
said, contains only one hundred
thousand Jewish inhabitants, and be-
fore the Jewish commonwealth can take
its rightful place among the nations
OF the world-let US hope as mem
Der of the league Of nations-it is
necessary that a much larger Jewish
population shall concentrate in the old
land of Israel. During this crucial
period, Great Britain will act as a
guardian until the infant republic can
o'fiitU Oii us own lceJ.
Economic Plans Made
"The Zionist organization of America
has already prepared plans for i'm
portant economic developments in
Palestine. An engineering commission.
an Industrial Investigating commission
and large land agency have been
organized. The latter is known as the
Zion Commonwealth an American
corporation, having for its purpose
the redemption of the soil of the Holy
Land to the end that Jewish
commonwealth may be established in
accordance with the precepts of the
prophets Of Israel and in harmony with
the modern demands for iustice'
Some time ago Mrs. Joseph Fels. Of
Philadelphia, pledged the sum of a
million dollars for the purpose Of
carrying out the programme of the
Zion Commonwealth, which goes a long
way toward the ideal of the single tax.
Among the other members of it's direc-
torate arc United States Circuit Court
Judge Julian w. Mack. president of the
ZIONIST organization, and who will go
to Versailles to present the claims of
the Jews at the peace conference.
To Keep Out Profiteers
"The principles of the Zion common
wealth are fundamental in the work of
establishing the Jewish state 1t is OBJ
vious that under ordinary conditions
the influx of large number Of Jews
in Palestine would cansc an increase
in the land values, which would be of
benefit only to the small GROUP Of land
lords who own the larger part of the
and. 1t would be of no advantage to
the vast majority Of non Jews in Pales-
tine, who are tenants and whose rent
would be raised as a consequence of a
large migration.
"On the other hand. every Jew who
settles in Palestine puts so much
money into the pockets of the land
lords, many Of whom are non-re residents,
creating condition of absentee land
lordism which is deplored. Such con-
dition acts, virtually. as a law for the
restriction OF Jewish immigration in
Palestine, since every Jew who enters
is compelled to pay tribute in the form
of higher rent to landlords and larger
prices to land spectators.
Mineral Rights Retained
IN order TO meet this condition the
Zion com monwealth accumulates funds
for the purchase of land in Palestine
in the names of its Jewish members,
so as to eliminate land speculation and
absentee landlordism, and more than
S2,500,OO0 has been subscribed already.
Each member receives only farming
land for the money which he invests,
but all mineral rights and the title to
city. town or industrial sites are held
IN the name of the entire community.
"The result is that while the Zion
commonwealth guarantees the develop
ment of an independent farmer class,
who formed the backbone of every
state, the large incomes that are de-
rived from city lots and industrial
sites will go into the public treasury.
1t is estimated that this income will
be sufficient to reduce taxation in the
instead of depending for public reve-
nue. upon heavy taxation of such
common necessities of life as sugar,
coffee, tea and the like. The expenses
of a police force, public education, san
itation and the other duties of state
will come from its position as a land
lord of the valuable real estate of
Palestine. 1t is analogous to a situa-
tion wherein the city of New York, for
example, should be the owner of the
important real estate plots that are
now in the hands of certain large cs-
tates. II the Dutch settlers had
had the foresight to hold the title to
these lands the city of New York would
have an annual income which would
permit it to dispense with all taxation.
and in addition it would enable the
city to make provision for great insti
tutions of learning, art and public rec
reation.
THE Zionists are resolved to learn
from the experiences of the past.