PROBLEMS OF ZIONISM.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—In your issue of February 5th you were good enough to allow me to point out that Mr. Israel Zangwill's allegation that Palestine was saddled with a share of the Turkish war indemnity was wholly imaginary. There is no such thing as a Turkish war indemnity, nor is Palestine liable for any portion of the Ottoman war debt. Her sole liability is for a proportionate share of the Ottoman debt contracted before the war. As Mr. Zangwill now returns to the charge, may I he permitted a brief rejoinder? Mr. Zangwill states that the distinction between indemnity and debt does not affect his point. As he expressly refrains from suggesting that the arrangements actually made are unfair, it is not easy to under- stand what his point is. My own point—a very obvious one— was, of course, that while it would be oppressive to make Palestine contribute. to the cost of the Ottoman share in the war, it is not unreasonable to impose on her a proportionate liability for the pre-war loans from which she benefited to oo.mmon with the rest of the Empire. As to Mr. Zangwill's inquiry whether the same principle has been followed in respect of other liberated territories, the answer is quite simply " yes." as Mr. Zangwill could have readily seen for himself from Article 254 of the Treaty of Versailles, Article 283 of the Treaty of Saint Germain, and Article 241 of the Treaty of Sevres.—I am, Sir, &e., LEONARD STRLN. S Paper Buildings, Temple, E.O. 4.
[We cannot continue this correspondence.—ED. Spectator.]
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