Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-23
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Next Saturday morning, Field Mar
shall Lord Allenby, the British general
who conquered Palestine from the
Turks in the World Wharf.-The Last Of
the CruSaders''-will arrive in Wash
ington, and he will be here over Sun
day. 1t is especially timely, therefore,
that Palestine should be a topic of
thought this week. and that timeliness
is enhanced by the fact that represent
atives Of all Jews last Sunday came
together in New York City to form one
supreme organization for the develop.
ment of that sacred land.
X \
Hitherto the Jews have been divided
into two parties, differing in opinion
as to their proper relation to Zion. The
plan of the zionists has been to lead
the children of Israel back to the Land
flowing with milk and honey" as did
Moses, and there to rebuild Judaism
as political state. The country is
under mandate from the League of
Nations, giving Great Britain political
control, and, as the British were favor
able to the movement, the 7ionists have
been working with great enthusiasm
for the last five years.
The United States has supplied much
of the capital required to purchase and
develop the land, and to finance the
migration. America has been called
upon for some $5,000,000 a year for
that fund, and the nom ioniSts have
protested that other calls for funds
made that Zionist plan great burden.
Money Is needed at home for the care
of the poor and the encouragement of
land settlement in America.
The non-zionists are no less attached
to the sacred traditions of the Holy
Land, but they look upon 1t as a reli-
gious, and not political nor a COLOMBIA
ton, relation.
The meeting of some 400 representa-
tive Jews from all parts of the United
States and Canada was held at the
Biltmore Hotel for conference on what
should be done, confirming previous
action in London. Washington Jews
were represented by Rabbi Abram
Simon, who took a prominent part.
from the standpoint of the nom
ZioniSts.
The outcome of the conference is
Joint agreement to unite In a world
agency to be controlled by $50 MEM
bers, of whom 40 per cent will come
from the United States, since about that
proportion of the funds and other sup
port are American. The active work
will be in the hands of an executive
committee of 90 members representing
both parties.
What is the project and what has
been its progress up to date?
Palestine is not a large country
about the size of Delaware. Some en-
thusiasts estimate that 1t is capable of
sustaining 100000 or 100000 popu-
La hat fivyn az
put the maximum at half million
Jews. There are 100000 Jews in
the world today. OF course, it is ut
terly impracticable for all the Jews,
however devout, to find an actual home
in Palestine. There are great Jewish
colonies in Siberia with better economi-
cal prospects.
Palestine in 1922 contained a popu-
lation estimated at 757,182 persons, of
which population 100000 we're Moham-
medans. 1874 Jews and 73.024 Chris
tians, the rest being Druses, Samari-
tans, BahaiaS, Metawilchs, Hindus and
Sikhs.
The latest estimate of population in
dicates that since 1922 the Jews have
increased to $4,000. the Christians to
net increase of Jews by immigration in
the last five years has been "a, 100 and
by births 16,l00-total, 90.200-while
the non-Jewish population has increas-
ed $4,000. The Jews in 1919 constituted
only 9.5 per cent of the total popula-
ton. while within the last year the
has reached 1873 per cent.
Palestine, under Zionistic promotion,
has a strict immigration restriction law;
it is not possible for Jew to enter
without a visa and classification by
the Zionist officials showing whether
he comes with any capital or is to be
dependent on help for a start.
The year 1927 showed great decline
in Internationally 2,788 being adj
mitted, as against 5,073 emigrated The
high mark was in 1925. when 35,80l
entered and only 2.151 departed. Doubt
less the more recent decline in the flow
of immigration has had large influence,
eliminating in the present combination
of forces of all Jewry. Overestimated
efforts to force immigration will prob
ably suspend.
=
Since the Zionist movement greatly
enhanced the price of land. 1t Is re- |
ported that prgsent relations between