Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-31

1TUAL JEWISH
IESTINE REMOTE
elected representative commission OF
five Jews, who were leaving to join
the international Zionist delegates In
Europe to formulate the Jewish claims
to be presented to the peace confer
ence was quite modest comparatively.
Program Outlined.
AS outlined for me by the head of
the commission, David Yellin, the
foremost Hebrew scholar Of the New
Settlement in the Holy Land, it
sought:
1. The control of the development
of Palestine through a chartered cor
poration to be formed and directed
under Zionist auspices. with head
quarters either in Europe or America.
2. The appointment of Great Brit
ain as a trustee power over free
Palestine.
3. The recognition of the claim OF
the Jews to a future Jewish state In
the Holy Land.
Jewish settlements were to be con-
fined to tracts now vacant or neg
lected. The Hebrew flag was to be
recognized and Hebrew as a national
language side by side with Arabic,
the language Of the majority.
l soon sought the Zionist commits
sion for the foundations it was re-
ported in America to be laying for
the Jewish state. Most of its energy
bution-an urgent and vital need.
The rest of its work consisted IN
rehabilitation Of the agricultural col
onies, Of the educational and chart
table institutions. 1t was maintain
ing, too, emergency workshops. AZ
Duper-relief committee ana recon
In the administration of the coun-
try it had no share: 1t was trying to
organize the 100000 Jews of PaIes-
tine. to unite their factions. 1t was
making sporadic attempts to treat
with the Arabs. But In the actual gov
eminent Of the country it was con-
suited only where Jewish interests
were concerned Instead Of occupying
the center Of the stage In the drama
of Palestine Delivered" with the
tive background, the real scene was
decidedly the reverse.
Greater Issue Overlooked.
1t was constantly striving. however,
to exert political influence mostly in
minor things, not always wisely con-
sidering the greater issue at stake. 1t
insisted, for instance, on the right OF
Jewish groups to parade in local eel
ebrations with the Zionist flag. when
the British were cautious enough to
=; I'm n
casions there was a slight Moslem-
Jewish fracas in Jerusalem. 1t zeal
ously fought for the spread of He
brew in administration practice. Jew
ish gendarmes, for example, insisted
upon wearing Hebrew armbands,
There was nothing but talk in Pal
estine to indicate that the country
would ever be q Jewish state. IRE
sponsible individual Zionists spoke all
too freely for their nations good in
the tea and wine shops. One even
published q pamphlet addressed to the
Arabs that worked incalculable harm
in its aggressive tone before 1t was
suppressed by the commission. The
Zionists at the helm said little pub
licly. All eyes were turned to the
would get in Palestine was still con-
ceded to be an open question.
While Jewish Palestine itself had
no illusions about the Balfour declar-
alton, basking in the freedom and
tact of the British administration.
thankful for its deliverance from
Turkish oppression and the nightmare
of the war. American Jewry, judging
by the newspaper clippings that
reached the Holy Land, still continued
to walk with their heads in the
~
thusiasm.
Views Of DR.. Wise.
We read that as late as February 8,
DR.. Stephen Wise. on his return from
Europe as head of the commission sent
by the American Jewish congress. de-
clared under his own signature in the
New York Globe:
"Zionism has ceased to be for Zion
ism implies the necessity Of a move
ment in order to bring the possibility
of the esta blishing of a Jewish or a
Zionist commonwealth before the eyes
Of the world. Jewish and non-Jewish.
Il may say without fear of contra
diction that the establishment of a
Jewish Palestine under the league
Of nations and with the trusteeship
that must obviously be granted is
just AZ truly before the mind Of
European statesmen, and, above all,
of American statesmen in Paris, as
any other question which lies before
them today"
Col. Harry Cutler, another Of the
returning delegates, wrote, under his
signature:
THE British government has pledged
a Jewish nation in Palestine. France
and Italy have Endorsed 1t. Our own
President has spoken. Who shall
say Nay? Everything now indi-
Gates that from it (the peace
conference) will emerge a Jewish
commonwealth in Palestine under
British protection"
Bernard G. Richards, secretary of
the American Jewish Congress. de-
clared: 1.-THE ancient Jewish national
ity is to take her place among the
youngest Of the peoples. thus giving
new meaning to the continuity and
logic of history. If all signs and por-
tents prove true, the world will soon
behold tho Jewish commonwealth
arising out of the dust, ruins and de-
cav - a.
How hollow these echoes seemed
to US. who were on the spot, watch
ing the growing Arab opposition, see
ing the limited activity of the Zionist
commission. hearing .other reports
from the worlds conference table. 1
remember the looks Of utter amaxe-
ment when ! showed these clippings
to leading British ofncials-to level
headed Zionists. There were facts
to be faced in Palestine. good. solid.
eart-and-head-b breaking work to be