El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-12
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government among the Jews in the
movement Many Jews desire an inde-
pendent nation This sentiment was
expressed in a recent proclamation
from the powerful inner actions COM
mittee OF the organization. in which
occurs the phrase. The trenches on
all fronts have played the role OF a
good school With the fighting COM
rades, apparently closely linked to-
gether through blood and suffering.
the Jews there have-this must be
frankly admitted-all the more felt
their isolation with increased grief.
And that great longing for organic
conference. which any human being
can only feel towards one country.
even II he loves another country too
that longing has seized them with a
peculiar strength"
This state Of affairs probably ap-
plies to the German army. where Jews
were only recently admitted to the
privilege of winning officer rank. to
the Austrian army, where anti
Semetic feeling has always run high.
and perhaps to the Russian army. for
the Jew in Russia lived apart under
the old regime, though since the revo-
luton Jews have taken 4 prominent
part.
on the other hand. it does not ap-
ply in America, or at least only in a
very attenuated form Some thought
ful American Jews have looked with
doubt on a politically autonomous
Jewish nation, which might under
take to speak for the Jews Of the
world. They do not feel painfully isO-
lated here. and they fear that the ex-
fstence of a Jewish nation might diff
ferentiate them from other Americans.
as limiting the possible existence of a
"hyphen." 1t should be stated that
the men who are perhaps the most
prominent in American Zionism do not
seem to share this view.
Matter Brought to n Head.
It has come to the surface very
plainly in England. however. where
the formal declaration OF the cabinet
that his majesty's government views
with favor the establishment in Pal
estine OF a national home for the
Jewish people, and will use its best
endeavors to facilitate the achieve
ment of this object" has brought the
matter to a head. An association
called the League OF British Jews has
been formed. numbering among its
founders some Of the most prominent
Jews IN England, including sundry
lords. members OF parliament. army
officers, scholars and financiers. One
Of the objects of the league is ito
resist the allegation that the Jews
constitute a separate political nation
atty" In explanation of its stand. the
league announces that the fitness of
Jews to be loyal British subjects has
been questioned on the ground that
they have a dual nationality" The
league seems to represent a minority
sentiment in Great Britain. but its
formation is OF interest to Americans.
as casting light on another angle OF
the problem.
Cultural Center for the Race.
Neither the league. nor most OF the
American Jews who are not support
ing the independent nation movement.
are opposed 10 Zionism insofar as ii
means the settlement Of Jews in
Palestine. The Jews OF the world want
that with practical unanimity, and
they viii get It. A cultural center for
the race brings up no argument
among its members. an economic cen
ter raises very little. but a political
center gives rise to discussion Prob
CONTINUED on next paEe.)