Evening star., 1925-10-31

JEWS AND A
date; that the whole work of building
up the home land has been left to
the Jewish people themselves.
These controversies have been an
swered by Sir Herbert Samuel. former
high commissioner of Palestine. who
has been generally conceded to be q
most impartial arbitrator. SO far
as there is any truth in these Criti-
cisms, it is the latter that has any
substance-the Jewish side of it. The
English government has found il pos
sible to do very little in giving to the
Jewish people land for settlement.
The school system as il stands
although a reform is already under
preparation. leaves almost the whole
burden of the education of the Jewish
child populat ton upon the shoulders
of the Jews themselves. in addition
to the contribution which they make
through their taxes TO the govern
ment system of Arab schools. OF the
many competent Jews who have of
fered themselves for government posi-
tions. it has not been possible with
out injustice to others, to employ more
than small number. But the Conse
quence has been that the Jewish move
ment has become selfdependent.
This one factor at least is propi-
tious; that the building of the National
Home has not been the work Of any
government; il is not an artificial con-
struction of laws and official fostering.
1t is the outcome of the energy and
enterprise of the Jewish people them
selves
1 also found that the chief dissen-
sions that occurred in the beginning.
directly after the war had subsided.
were due to the fact that the Arabs had
expected thousands of Jews to come
into the country, but this did not
occur. The fear they had that their
villages would be attacked by we'll
armed Jewish colonists. which agi-
tators had announced. was groundlesS
The day when 900 Jews would
land IN Palestone to take full posses
sion of the land did not come. Days.
months and years followed and the
Arab did not have his land taken
from him. The anticipation that the
mosques would be closed and turned
into synagogues never came to pass.
Moslem Rights.
On the contrary. a new, purely Mos
lemic body. controlling all the Moslem
rights. was inaugurated. 1t has re-
built and restored it's holy places.
conditions to harbor Indefinitely the
feeling Of alarm. AS has been said,
people cannot be induced to remain
constantly mobilized against a danger
which never eventuates."
In the words of the former high
commissioner, this is what happened:
The population gradually came TO
understand the spirit that animates Il
British administration. The activity
1trHr al,Y =
out of the villages. obviously working
for the benefit of the people. had a
widespread effect.
Under their auspices there We're
signs of progress such as had been
unknown before. Nearly 200 villages
could show new schools. Roads were
being constructed in every direction.
Several villages were provided with
new water supplies. Fresh land was
being brought under cultivation. Agri
cultural experts gave useful advice.
Tobacco growing was encouraged.
Robbers We're put down. Old blood
feuds were settled. What seemed in
deed surprising was that. although the
war had for some time been over, tens
of thousands of dollars were received
in hard cash by Arab villagers in vari-
Gus parts of the country in payment
for the damage done by the British
army.
And when the new government
needed land it paid for it at fair
price. The old Arab officials who had
received pensions under the Turks re-
ceived them still; the rights of those
who retired and were qualified were
recognized and met. Slowly the sus-
picionS of the new administration
yielded under the influence of expert
ence: gradually it acquired in the
minds of the people a reputation for
justice and good will
Britain's Even Hand.
The Palestine population has been
made TO realize that the Balfour dec
laration plainly sets forth the interest
the British government has taken in
the Jews securing the homeland, al
though the rights of other citizens are
to be conserved. Not only this, but
each succeeding government in Great
Britain, no matter of what party, def
nitely affirmed the policy. The League
of Nations finally indorsed the man
date. as. we'll as both houses Of the
United States Congress.
1T was, therefore, made clear to the
leaders of opinion exactly what the
Balfour declaration meant and what
it did not mean. The Zionists, on their
side were careful to make no eXag
gerated claims that would justify the
of alarm. OF the large jew
ish expenditure in the country. con-
siderable part percolated to the Arab
the sales of land enabled
many owners to free themselves from
debt and to obtain capital with which
to develop the lands that they retain
ed. 1t is impossible for 100000 to
be spent in so small country without
all sections of the people feeling the
benefit.
I'm the beginning the political COM
mittee mentioned was appointed by
the Arabs to thwart all the efforts of
the Jews. 1t is evident, however, that
to maintain purpose of action of any
political movement is difficult.
Diversity Of Interest.
'In a population such as the Arabs
of Palestine, the difficulty is more
than usually great. For, as among
the Jews, SO also among the Arabs,
there is much diversity; the Christian
of Jerusalem does not nee
essarily share the views Of the Mos
lem merchant Of Samaria. The bust
ness man of Jaffa or Haiffa. educated
perhaps in France or ia England has