PALESTINE AND CHRIS TIANITY.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43114, 16 July 1907, Page 4

PALESTINE AND CHRIS TIANITY.

Mir William O’Brien, the Irish Independent member of the House of Commons, is the latest advocate of European control of Palestine. ’lie has been touring in the East, and publishes his impressions, in exceptionally vigorous and attractive language. He asks, to commence with, whether there is really no Avay of “giving Christianity a, dignified existence in the cradle of Christianity.” “At this moment,” he says, “England and, Russia are understood, to be building up ail entente Avith respect, to all their common interests in the East. That Palestine alone 'should be left out of the discussion, is surely one of thosie portents which ought to create some searchings of the spirit among the three or four hundred millions of civilised men to AA'hom the events of Bethlehem and Calvary give the only clue to the riddles of existence here or hereafter.” Mr O’Brien observes that there could be no question of setting up any new sovereignty, or even of disturbing- any existing rights, Greek or Latin, Judaic or Mohammedan. The duty of Europe Avould be only “the, delimitation of existing privileges, and the policing of public) Avorship in a manner worthy of the unspeakable sanctity of the place.” A European Council of Control, under the presidency of a Christian Pasha, would have no, mission that could shock any fanaticism, in their new crusade. Christianity Judaism, and Jslamismi are in “water-tight compartments’’ in Palestine, and, says Mr O’Brien, everyone recognises the fact. European intervention. Avould be welcomed, Mr O’Brien thinks, by the peoples of the Holy Land. The Mohammedan peasantry Avould . be given some relief from! the merciless exactions of the small Turkish officials. The Jews, avlio form two-thirds of the population of Jerusalem', have no sites of historic value in their possession. The Latin orders Avould be glad to have protection against the Greek priests, and all sections would hail the ordered impartiality of European tribunals with satisfaction. But Mr O’Brien thinks it unlikely that the Mohammedans would give up the rock: of the Holy of Holies to the l Hebrews or the site of the Ascension to the Christians without bloodshed.