The Dominion. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1917. PALESTINE'S FUTURE PLACE AMONG THE NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1917. PALESTINE'S FUTURE PLACE AMONG THE NATIONS

In the Greek Church Cathedral at Jerusalem there is a column about three feet high covered by a boss which pilgrims devoutly kiss -and justify their doing so by saying it is "the centre of the world." This statement is not. so absurd as it seems, for in one of tho latest-text books on Palestine the writer says that if a Mcrcator's chart of the world be cut- with-, intersecting lines it discloses the fact that; Jerusalem is the "centre of the world." Be this, however, as it may, there is no doubt that there is a deep and widespread interest in Palestine today: it is a centre, of attraction to many people with many minds. This interest has been - excited by the presence of the conquering armies .of Britain in,-Palestine. Tho British flag' now flies over the land and cities of the Philistines; over the lowlands and most of the highlands of Judah; and over a, part of Samaria. The passing of Turk : ish rule* from the land is inducing people to ask questions about its future.- In one section , of the religions world books ori prophecy,' which minister more to curipsity:mongcring than to are finding a ready salo.- .In another section of tho religious world an interest of a more political kind is-shown. A prominent French cardinal ing upon Prance to resume diplomatic relationship with tho Vatican with the view of safeguarding the interests of the Roman : Church in Palestine.. In.tho Jewish world the Zionists see in the British victories the dawning of a now day for their great scheme. Two-weeks ago we learned by cable that the British •Foreign- Minister had-told a Zion.ist deputation that he,favoured an autonomous Jewish- State.in , Palestine, "and .another"-'-'cable message dated December 3 reports that the, British; Government •■' favour's- ' estab- '

lishing a "natural home for Jews," and tho Foreign Undcr-Seorctary says that it desires that "tho Arab countries should bo given to tho Arabs, Armenia to tho Armenians, Judea to tho Jews, and real Turkey to. tho Turks." The second cablegram has not the crisp sharpness of statement of the first, and the probability is that tho Government while heartily sympathising with the Zionist movemont has not committed itself to. tho "autonomous Jewish Stale" scheme. Theso victories aro also exciting interest in Germany, and concern is expressed by a professor at tho disasters that are coming down upon tho Turks. It is right, that the Kaiser's gang should bo concerned.about tho' Turk for ho has lost heavily by them; but this professor can only hope that by negotiations the Turk may get back what ho has lost—that Is to say, that Germany baa too much in band in Europe to help the Turk outside. Palestine' is thus to-day very much :a problem in international politics, and it maybe timely'to look at the interests concerned. Theso interests are chiefly twofold. Ono interest is the safety of our_ Empire. The Turk made Palestine in this war a menace to our oversea Empire. The other interest is the. rights and liberties of the present inhabitants of .the land. . These two interests are paramount and. must bo regarded. As long as the Turkish flag flies over Palestine Britain will have a dangerous, and abiding menace to her great waterway, the Suez Canal. Turkey, as Germany's hireling vassal, has stood in this war for. the capture or destruction of tEe Suez Canal ; and for the consequent cutting in two of our Empire. The roads and railways of Palestine were the means of transporting the attacking armies of Turkey bound for Egypt to stab there Britain's power. For long years Britain stood by Turkey, and Turkey has shown her ingratitude and treachery. . The supposed buffer State -of 100 miles of desert between Beersheba and Port Said needs to bo enlarged to include Palestine in order to safeguard the canal. The railways of Palestine, which could easily be extended towards Africa, must be taken out of the hands of the Turks. In the present war Turkey attacked "> Egypt by her front door—the southern desert. That door must be closed; ■ But she has a back door that she might use. in the next war. She owns the port of Akaba, the best harbour in'the Bed Sea, and Akaba is connected by rail with Haifa, and in any (subsequent war, with an arsenal and warships at Akaba, she could command the Red Sea and block the canal. Thirty years ago Mr. Lα whence Oliphant, in his Land of Gilead, warned Britain of the menace to her of Akaba, the back door of Palestine. The safety of our Empire- demands that this Turkish menace must end in Palestine. The Turkish flag must no longer fly there.'This does not necessarily mean that the British flag should fly over the land, but it does mean that tho land should be controlled by some Power friendly to Britain and one that Britain could trust.

The other great interest to be conserved is the rights and liberties of the. inhabitants of the land.' The 'people must not be forced to live under a flag they hate, nor must they be deported to make room for others. Tho chief inhabitants of the 'land form three classes—Mohammedans, Jews, and Christians. The total population is about 800,000, of whom two-thirds are Mohammedans, but these are mostly Arabs, and not Turks, and for a generation or two they'have hated the rule of the Turk. Thirty years ago Mn. Oliphant, in travelling in Palestine, found the Arabs cursing the Turks for their bad government, and they expressed the wish that Britain should take possession of the land. A writer who speaks from personal knowledge says in the Contemporary Review for May, 1915, that the Moslem Arabs despise and dislike tho Turks, and would welcome British rule. The Quarterly Review, in its issue of October, 1916, said: "The desire of tho inhabitants for British protection, strong as it was forty years ago,- is stronger to-day, for tho work of tho British in the regeneration of Egypt during the past thirty years has rendered the natives of Palestine still more anxious for similar benefits."-' The Moslem Arabs would thus welcome the striking down of the Turkish flag. Tho next considerable part of the population arc the Jews, The Zionist movement has led many thousands of Jews to Palestine in recent years,, and' the anti-Semite outbursts in. Germany, Austria, and Russia have led also numbers to the land. - The total Jewish population may be set down at about 80,000, of whom about Half live in Jerusalem. Canon Hichens, who up to the war was Anglican minister in Jerusalem, says- in the' Contemporary Review already referred to that Jerusalem has a population of 70,000, of whom 40,000 are Jews, and if this be so tho Jewish evacuation of Jerusalem, reported by way of Budapest, must be a very considerable affair. This intelligent writer reports while a number of enthusiastic Zionists would like a self-governing Jewish State, the majority of the Jews would favour a British protectorate. It is quite possible that this Zionist movement may assume very large proportions in the near future if the rule of the Ottoman Turk ends in. Palestine. Half of the Jews of the whole world—6,ooo,ooo—arc in Russia, and have endured incrediblepersecutions. They aro now free, and a large number might wish to leave the surroundings of their bondage and live in the land to them so sacred. Tho third part of the population is.raadcup of Christians of various denominations aricl nationalities:- Greek, Roman, Projtestnnt; • Arab;- Russian, Greek, French, _ German, and , others. There is probably less unanimity - about ' the future flag' among them than among Moslems and Jews, but according to Canon Hickens the British flag would bo favoured by a- large majority of the Christians. The British Government is evidently impressed with tho strength of tho Zionist movement, and it may favour the old province of Judca being allocated to tho Jew. But Jerusalem is in Judca, and the "Holy Places" there appeal to some Christians very powerfully, and they might object to an absolute Jewish control in Jerusalem. There is a measure of.pcril in a sectarian State, no matter how noblo the inspiring sentiment may be This problem is an interesting one, and probably it will take the combined 'wisdom of Britain, France, and America to settle it. No solution will be adequate, however, that does not see to it that Palestine will no longer bo a menace to Britain in Egypt, and that docs not rrg.ird the. wishes of the vast majority of the 'people in. the .land. There-' are Germans, no . doubt, , there, with forceful, scheming personalities who

believe in the Kaiser, but they aro not many, and the German Jew may bo a> mad Zionist, but bo has no love for the German flag, for ho knows that Germany kindled the fires of Jewish persecution in recent times that spread into Austria and lead to awful atrocities In ttussia. _ The solution seems to lie in a British protectorate which would conserve the- rights of all.