Evening star., 1937-05-02

reaped with sickles and the grain
threShed out by driving camels over it,
and next a field titled by Jews with
every perfected implement OF agricul-
ture known upon the best farm in
Western America.
They have drained swamps and irri-
gated arid wastes. With adequate cap
ital and the extraordinary energy Of
the immigrants, they have made Pales-
tine the most prosperous corner OF
the earth, and the only country where
the demand for labor exceeds the sup
ply.
One feature OF their experiment
that has made it fascinating to all
sociologists and student OF history is
that they have proceeded to the re-
conquest of what was OF old time
their country without force or coer-
cion. They have obtained land and
made their settlements upon it, but
every foot they have occupied has been
had by free bargain and sale from the
existing holders. Willingly they have
paid excessive or exorbitant prices for
the land, but they have never driven
any one from it. For the first time
since William Penn, at least, they have
made acquisition of territory strictly
with the methods Of peace, good will
and mutual consent. BY their i'm
provements they have increased the
value Of the land and then paid the
increased price that they themselves
have created.
The world owes them acknowledg-
ment on still an other score. In the
face OF innumerable obstacles they
have held with quiet persistence to
their innocuous purposes and aims
The British government, arbitrarily and
without warrant in the mandate-in-
deed in apparent violation Of the cove
nant thereof-cut of from Jewish i'm
migration all of Palestine east of the
Jordan River, containing some Of the
fairest regions of the terrain. Arbi-
trarily again, it has narrowly limited
the number Of Jews annually allowed
to settle in the country. The Zionists
have gone on without complaint and
"AtAAoae Az PiAiiiiS W llldAC, dS UCSG tIlSS
could, toward their objective and
along their original plan OF pacific
transformation.
Keep Heads During Storm.
That is one thing. And another is
that when the Arab masses were insti-
gated by interested agencies to break
out into violence against the newcom-
ers. the Jews bore themselves with a
patience and restraint that won the
liberal praise Of even their least friend
ly observers.
The disturbances that rocked Pal
estine last year, as four years earlier,
were in no way or instance chargeable
to the immigrants. They were primar-
lily the results Of the Vaccinations Of
the old feudal chiefs, always accus-
toned to rule with an absolute sway
and to exploit as they pleased the peo-
Piles at their mercy. They saw their
aristocracy threatened with the peace
full penetration Of a new and demo-
cratic order of society and they re-
volted against the innovation. 1t had
been clearly shown that left to them
selves, the Arab masses and the Jew
ish settlers could live as close neigh
bors without even quarreling over the
back fence. There are grave suspi-
cions or worse that the excited aristo-
Gratis were helped and goaded on by
outside influences that had Interior
aims of highly international nature.
For it is not even true that religious
differences had anything to do with
the clashes. Synagogue and mosque
have for generations existed side by
side, without inciting to riot.
In the upheaval that followed, many
Jews lost their lives and many others
were hurt, but, singularly enough, there
is no instance Of reprisals. According
to all accounts, the settlers contented
themselves with an appeal to the power
whose duty it was under the mandate
to maintain order. British troops came
after time and British commission
took testimony that established these
facts as here related. It Is expected to
report soon some plan by which the
mandate may be fulfilled and Britain
still retain its gun bases for the de-
tense OF the Suez Canal. In any event,
there is no indication that the manda-
tory power has any intention to give
over its purpose Of a Jewish homeland.
May Give Aid to Refugees.
But the aspect Of the new Palestine
that has most to say to the world of
the tolerant and enlightened is the
chance that it may prove to be a
place Of refuge for the victims Of
the strangest recrudesence of relig-
ious persecution that an astonished
civilization has witnessed in 400 years
The wave of anti-Semitism that
has swept over Eastern Europe in the
last four years reminds one Of the
historic fanaticisms of the Dark Ages
After the Hitler regime in Germany
had inaugurated q policy of eliminat-
ing Jewish competition by closing to
Jews the avenues Of livelihood, the
example was taken up in Poland,
where a peculiar economic condition
brought it to a pitch in which more
than three million Jews are virtually
menaced with extinction.
So long as Poland was q part of
the Russian empire its economic life
was largely industrial It WAS q
workshop for much Of the rest Of the
empire. When Poland became inde-
pendent. it, industrial functions were