JEWS IN PALESTINE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1576, 21 October 1912, Page 3

JEWS IN PALESTINE.

BEGINNINGS OF SELF-GOVERN-MENT.

TCBKISIT. (iOVKKNMENT AND ZIONISJI. J'or many years Hie Zionist movement founded by the. late Dr. Theodore, llerzl hiiH worked for the e.-tablishnient in .Palestine, of nn autonomous centre, where, the persecuted .lews of J'ln.sk'rn Kuropo [liny lin<l liberty and economic opportunity, and thi! Hebrew raco us a whole inny' possess a cultural rallying point, for the development, under niituriil conditions, of its religious, dliiral, nnd inlcllcclunl Renins. Although tho Jewish population »i' the llnly liiiiid has l>i'eii btciidily increasing diiring lecent years, nnd the agricultural colonies, founded by. the Jewish Colonisation Association (it »d----ministers tho millions lwque-'tbcd by iliu bite Huron de llirsch for this purpose), by Hnron Kdmond de Rothschild, mid by tho Zionists lheni>:«lves, have been growinjf in prosperity and sclf-dcnciulcnco, tho inellicient and in ninny respects tho hoslilo character of the Turkish Administration has prevented as substantial i\\\ advance, being made as would otherwiso have been possible. In spilo of, or ns somo would say, because of, the prominent association of Jews or )>scudo-.icws with the Committee of Union and Progress, tho Young Turk party has discouraged tho further settlement; of Jews in Palestine. Restrictions have been placed on tho sale of land to Jews, although tho future of tho country depends on its agricultural development, and generally obstacles have been placed in the way of bodies and individuals anxious to spend _ , money in establishing industries. Zionism has been opposed as being in conflict with the policy of Turkificalion.

Tho Governor's Announcement. Now, however, with the appointment of a new Governor of Jerusalem, who is a sort, of Viceroy for the whole- province of Palestine, there has been apparently a complete chance in the attitude of the authorities. A few days after his arrival in the country, Jluhdi Bey, the new Governor, paid a visit to several of the Jewish colonies before he had been to uny other part of the province. He made his headquarters, liishon-le-Zion, near Jaffa, ono .of tho. oldest.' colonies, and famous for; its-\'iues, and'addressed a meet- , ing of the councils of the neighbouring Jewish colonies, such as Kechoboth and I'etach Tikvoh (where the well-known. "Jaffa" oranges are grown), in tho, BethAni (People's House). Ho said that the 'Turks entertained friendly feelings towards the Jews, because they were good citizens, and did not involve Turkey in quarrels with foreign Powers. The Government did not object to Zionism. On tho contrary, it was well disposed to the movement, because every nation had the right to look alter its own national affairs and interests. He himself was a son of tho Albanian people, and could, therefore, sympathise with the Jews, who were persecuted everywhere. The ' process of Turkification had failed. Every people must have its liberty, so that it might live, and develop according to its, own individuality. All attacks on Zionism were unwarranted. He could not make new laws, but he would try to interpret and apply tho existing laws for the good of the Jewish colonists. Local Government. The Governor wont on to announce that a new law of local government was to bo established, which would be based on the principle of decentralisation. Every village which had not loss thau 100 families who were Turkish subjects would be ablo to appoint a town council of their own, and in this way the principal Jewish colonies would come under their own administration. Every colony would then elect its town council, and one of its members would be.appointcd Mayor. Tho colonists themselves would be empowered to give title deeds for land, permission for erection of buildings, and would assess their own taxes. Tlie doctor of tho colony would be officially recognised, and tho local administration would be invested with power to deal with criminal oHenccs. The colonists would be entitled to appoint gendarmes, whose names would bo registered in the Government records, and who would be provided by the Government with uniforms and arms, and invested with tho authority enjoyed by tho Government gendarmerie. In order that tho colonists should live in perfect safely, and be protected against untoward events, they would be permitted to connect the colonies with the nearest town by telephone, so that in ease of necessity help might be obtained. The colonics would be able, to build'hospitals and import .medicines fvco of duty, and various taxes now raised by the provincial government would be retained for the benefit of tho colonies. The Effect of the Cliannes. Tt may bo assumed that tho Governor would not havo spoken without authority from Constantinople, and his announcement, made so soon after his assumption of the duties of his office, clearly indicates that the Turkish Government has resolved on a new policy towards their Jewish subjects in the Holy Laud. They hnvo managed many of their own local affairs themselves in tho past, but they havo always been subjected to petty restrictions, to governmental harassing, and to ntlacks from the predatory Arabs, who aro to be. found all over the country. They will now be free to conduct the colonies completely on their own lines, to make adequate provision against attack, and to proceed with their economic development freely and with the warm support, instead of the churlish reluctance, of the Turkish authorities. The total population of Palestine is estimated at 750,000, of whom over one-third are Jews. In Jerusalem there are about 55,000 Jews out of a total population of 80,000. The most successful Jewish colonies in Talestine are near Jaffa, though others are.in Galilee, near Haifa, Jerusalem, and other centres. The Jewish Colonisation Association was, it was understood, prepared to spend half .i million pounds on further colonisation schemes as soon as the restrictions which have hitherto prevailed were removed. Il may be anticipated Mint this expenditure will now be made. AVith renewed activity on the part of the Zionists very substantial steps towards vim realisation of their aims will now be possible.