THE COLONIZATION OF PALESTINE
Jewish immigration into England――A meeting for the
establishment of Jewish colonies in Palestine――The foundation
of the Society “_Kadima_”――The Opposition――The opinions of
English authorities on Palestine――Col. Conder――General Sir
Charles Warren――Lord Swaythling――Earl of Rosebery――A petition
to Abdul Hamid, _Sultan_ of Turkey.
THROUGH the persecutions of the Jews in different countries large
numbers of fugitives had found their way to England. Many of these,
ignorant of the language and customs of this country, had to endure
great hardships. Although some of them succeeded in the struggle for
existence under such unfavourable conditions, there were many others
to whom England could not afford the prospect of gaining a livelihood.
Their difficulties were forcibly brought home to the Jews who lived in
the East of London. They had been eye-witnesses themselves, if not of
the persecutions, at least of some of their worst consequences. The
first movement to remedy this unfortunate state of affairs began in
1885, when a meeting was held for the purpose of founding a society
for the promotion of the Jewish National Idea, and the establishment
of Jewish Colonies in Palestine. This meeting achieved no practical
results at the time; but it gave expression to feelings which were
bound ultimately to lead to practical and useful action. Two years
later a society was formed in East London under the name of “_Kadima_.”
Meetings were held at which papers were regularly read on some
Jewish national subject. But the members were much divided as to the
best method of realizing their aims. While some wanted the society
to be nothing but an educational institution for the refugees who had
taken up their abode in England, others desired to extend the sphere
of its activity, and to make colonization one of its main objects. The
newly awakened national consciousness had not yet gained mastery over
the inveterate national apathy, and was still groping in the dark to
find a basis for practical operations.
The enthusiasm manifested among the Jewish masses, important as it
was, could not raise sufficient means, and was unable to influence the
upper classes. The old questions arose again: Is Palestine suitable
for colonization? What are the conditions of the soil and the climate?
How many people could be accommodated there? By what means could a
change in the conditions of Palestine be brought about?
It is strange how obstinately some Jewish opponents of the
colonization of Palestine strained against believing in the future
of Palestine. To the past they paid in icy discomfort the tribute of
their remembrance, for this past imposes no duties upon those who are
already quite detached from it in spirit. But the future! By denying
the possibility of a future one beguiles an elastic conscience,
which longs to evade the apparent conflict between duty to humanity
and national instinct. But it avails little to pay no heed to truth
because it is inconvenient, for where historical facts and direct
experience point the same way, to deny them is but empty sophistry.
The opponents of Palestinian colonization could not deny that
Palestine was once the “land of milk and honey,” but to justify
themselves they tried to make out that two thousand years of
desolation and neglect had laid the Holy Land waste and transformed it
for all time into an unproductive desert. No more fallacious idea ever
obtained currency. True, Palestine is no longer the luxuriant garden
it once was, for history has crushed it under an iron heel, and what
traces were left of its former richness lacked care and protection,
so that disintegration and sterility took possession of the Holy Land
as though it were a land accursed. Nevertheless, there is not the
slightest reason to despair of a new development of the country, if
only the task of carrying out this new development be entrusted to
those who are willing to devote themselves to it, head, heart and
hand, with the passion of patriotism and the zeal that springs from
the consciousness of a historic responsibility.
The appendices to this book contain many excerpts from the works of
competent authorities, which afford reliable information as to what
may be achieved by a systematic and devoted cultivation. One may infer
from these quotations, which are not in any way coloured by a facile
optimism, what indestructible germs of future prosperity remain, in
spite of all “_injuriæ temporum_.” If only an indolent administration
and a lazy and retrograde population are replaced by capable national
elements, the promise will be turned into a rich fulfilment. Figures
and facts show too that notwithstanding all the unkindness of
history, not only has the soil of Palestine retained its capacity for
development, but trade has maintained itself, all things considered,
at a high level. The ports of _Jaffa_ and _Haifa_ teem with traffic,
although little enough is being done in harbour construction; and
exports considerably exceed imports, which shows that, despite the
neglect of centuries, the natural productiveness of the soil is still
capable of adjustment to present-day conditions. No factory chimneys
bear witness to active industry, no convenient means of communication
favour trade; a phlegmatic, sparse population, entirely untouched
by modern civilization, takes indolently what nature proffers,
without any thought of supplementing it by its own endeavours. But
given capable agriculturists, engineers and technicians, trained
and enterprising merchants, and ample capital, how quickly could
stagnation be turned into living and creative vigorous prosperity.
The idea of the colonization of Palestine is, moreover, connected with
the remarkable colonizing impetus which has taken hold of the entire
modern world. And, judged by outward characteristics, are the European
migrations to foreign lands, their colonization and development, so
very different from this feature of Jewish aspirations? Exuberant
energy finds no appropriate outlet in Europe, and seeks it far away,
where it may be usefully employed for the furthering of civilization
in the midst of backward countries and nations. Fruitful Jewish
energy, which is being kept under in the Diaspora, will be gathered
and transplanted to Palestine, that it may prove true to itself and
to the whole of civilization, like Antæus brought back to contact with
the earth.
Still, questions were naturally asked as to the condition of the
soil of Palestine and the possibilities of expansion. It was also
repeatedly asked, whether the Jews would be capable of hard pioneer
work in the sphere of agriculture. These questions have been answered
in a series of ♦pamphlets and articles by such authorities as Colonel
Claude Reignier Conder, General Sir Charles Warren, and others. They
have shown that Palestine is capable of supporting a nation such as
the Jews. Men who for many years had made the scientific exploration
of Palestine their sole aim, whose judgment in the matter must be
universally admitted to be decisive, have given testimony to the fact
that the land “may be made one vast garden, not merely by rebuilding
the great aqueducts, remains of which still exist, and by means of
which the great cities were watered, but by means of the _Jordan_
river itself.” They also affirmed that “the time has at last arrived
to restore the desolations of _Zion_, and to rebuild the wasted places
of the land of _Israel_.” Some of them referred to the Scriptures, but
others dealt with the matter from a purely scientific point of view.
They suggested the formation of a company similar to the old East
India Company to administer Palestine (Appendix lxxiii).
♦ “pamphets” replaced with “pamphlets”
In brief, all these English Christian authorities put forward in the
most definite and clearest terms what we know as political Zionism.
These testimonies of English authorities concerning Palestine
encouraged the “Lovers of _Zion_” in England to carry on their
philanthropic work, and also to take certain political steps. A great
and far-reaching step was taken by them in 1893, when a petition
to Abdul Hamid, _Sultan_ of Turkey (1876‒1909), was presented by
Mr. Samuel Montagu, M.P. (afterwards Lord Swaythling) (1832‒1911), to
the Earl of Rosebery, with a request to transmit it to Constantinople
(Appendix lxxiv). The petition was signed by the officers of the
Executive Committee and the secretaries of each Tent of the “Lovers
of _Zion_.” It had no effect, because negotiations with the Turkish
Government are generally very tardy, and the circumstances of the time
were not favourable. There were obstacles, difficulties, uncertain
political influences, currents and counter-currents which could not be
got rid of immediately. But at any rate the English “Lovers of _Zion_”
endeavoured to do precisely what the Zionists did at a later period.