THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE. [TO THE EDITOR OF THE "
SPEDTATOR.']
SIR, I regret that Colonel Patterson has misconceived the object of my article. In common with many people, I sym- pathize with the wish of some Jews to make their homes in Palestine. The danger .s that the proceedings of the Zionists. unless they are conditioned by the facts of the present situation, may render the realization of this natural wish impracticable. The tone of Colonel Patterson's letter and his proposal to buy out the "Beduin" or trust to their relapse into nomadic life emphasizes this danger. Mr. Zangwill 'n proposing to employ force to expatriate the Syrian owners of the soil, " if reason and goodwill cannot procure a settle- ment," goes a step farther.
Dr. Max Nordau is reported to have said that there is room for two hundred millions of people in Palestine! Colonel Patterson believes that this little and largely barren land " can support" six times its present population—i.e., about 3,900,000 people—" when it is brought under proper cultiva- tion." Neither he nor I can tell what number of people may ultimately be capable of finding a living in Palestine; but the growth must be very slow, and the only colonists who ought to be accepted are trained cultivators and navvies to build roads and railways and to create a port. If the Zionists' can provide these classes, the development of Palestine will benefit from Jewish assistance and the employment of Jewish capital.
My suggestion that the Moslems and Christians of Palestine might not readily accept Jewish government causes Colonel Patterson to say that we are "a smug, self-satisfied race." It happens, however, that we have become responsible for the government and prosperity of the people of a small historic country, where the Jews are not only in a small minority, but do not take bearly their due share in production. In these circumstances, it must be evident that to set up any Govern- ment controlled by this minority or to accord to it any pre- ferential treatment would be opposed to every principle ot right and justice.
Colonel Patterson is mistaken in believing that no resent- ment is felt at the proceedings of the Zionists. My information shows that there are already possibilities of serious trouble. On February 23rd the correspondent of the Daily News telegraphed from Jerusalem :- " There is a feeling of hostility against this country being made the Jewish national home, and intense resentment that the repeated protests made to the British and Allied Govern- ments against the alleged preference already shown by them to the Zionists have brought no replies. Threatening placards fixed to the city walls have been torn down. . . . The presence of 50,000 Arabs and Beduin, who are flooding inti Jerusalem as part of the progress of the Syrian unity campaign, has helped to harden anti-Zionism in Palestine."
I agree with Colonel Patterson that the Jews "are a people well able to take care of themselves." It is, therefore, the more necessary that we should safeguard the rights of the Moslems and Christians who for many years must form the large majority, and who will neither accept Jewish rule nor consent to. be swamped by a great Jewish influx if—as is clearly not the case—this were now possible.—I am, Sir, &c., SYMNIAM.
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