THE NEW PALESTINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 9

THE NEW PALESTINE

A COMMISSION OF THREE NATIONS FINANCING ROMANTIC ENTERPRISE Plans are now going forward (states a recent issue of the New York "Evening Post") for the expenditure of (ho 'first million dollars (.£200,030) of the fund to restore the Jewish colonics in Palestine and re-establish the Jewish state- in the ancestral home of Israel. Jews, in the British Empire aro raising a preliminary million dollars to match the American million, and Uussian Zionists have levied an income tax on themselves to cover their share of the initial expenses. A special commission, composed of American, British, and Uussian Jews, selected by tho international Zionist organisation, will leave for Palestine soon to ascertain the needs of the new State and make plans for its establishment. Tho make-up of the commission will includo experts in city planning, sanitation, agronomy, road building, and other engineering branches, and specialists in technical and general education. The provisional Zionist committee, which has charge of tho fund, has already appropriated 100,000 dollars (.£80,000) for America's share in the work of commission. Anothor 400,000 dollars has been cabled to Jerusalem to re-establish tho credit of tho Anglo-Palestine Bank, tho institution run under international Zionist: enterprises, which is (he financial keystone of Jewish agencies in Palestine. Repatriation First. Tho first work of tho commission will be to re-establish the forty-eight Jewish colonies in Palestine and to repatriate tli-a Jewish population-in tho cities, which, in the seaport towns particularly, 'has been subjected to deportations and hardships under recent Turkish rule. The war cut oft' the Jewish colonies from their markets. They had been exporting to Europe great quantities ot wines and citrus fruit* awl. considerable grain, and through the efforts of the colonists the exports of Palestine naci been increased 200 per cent, in .the ten vears preceding the war. As soon as tho conflict broke- this progress was ended. The Jewish colonists had planted over a million-trees. The best or these were cut down, for military purposes by the Turks. Tl;o colonists had established expensive irrigation systems, for Palestine is a dry country during halt the year. The Turks appropriated tlie pipe lines to serve the needs of war. As a result the orauge groves were partially destroyed by drought, and a plague of locusts added to -the destruction. In addition many of tho colonists were driven from their homes by tna military power. , . ;„„,,„,, The Palestine commission will ini,u ß"" rate systematic -econstruction. Already, in advance of the commission a amyal, this work has begun m some ot tlie colonies, notably in Petah-Tikvah, the oldest and largest of the colonies, m the upper Jordan valley, which suffered, severe damage in tho Turkish retreat. A co-operative wheat purchase, schema has been instituted for tho colonists and the British Government has arranged to semi in seeds for the new crops. The Bntish authorities aro giving their full support and co-operation to the Jewish organisation in Palestine. .Advices received by the Zionist organisation here indicate that much rebuilding will bo necessary in. the colonies.

Deportations from Towns. In many o£ the cities tho condition of tho Jewish population is even worse "nan in the country. Witn the advance of the British armies, tho 'lurks indulged in wholesale deportation o Jews from the seaport towns. I'rom Jtitla, the port of Jerusalem, some 10.000 Jews hod the Turkish power or were driven out. Of these IBM went to Galilee, 15.00 to bit.inarin, 'ISOO to NabJiw. Iktreml Jiioiwaiid, who touud conceiilment at ncurby points in tho interior until'the Turkish retreat hud passed, have- already, returned, tho others must bo recovered by the comiuisnioii and restored to their homes. Disease, starvation, unci expulsions have reduced tho Jewish population of Jonisalem nbou't 10 per cent., and to-day thoro aro only 33,000 .lows left in the Holy Uty. Tho great moss of the population is in. ra"s lor mr new clothing, or even thomcVw for 'making it, has teen available in Jcrusa'ifiin since tho war began, the commission will take with it several tons ot garments, provided by iludassah, the Women's Ziionist organisation, which tor tiie past two months, has collecting oiothinn for this purpose in fifty. American cities.. , • A medical unit, with nurses, and supplies, will also go with the commission to attend to immediate, needs. .A. Hospital will bo established in Jerusalem, where disease lias become endemic under, war conditions. .It is planned to set up dispensaries in ■ other cities. Already, according to Zionist loaders, the Palestino fund has justified itseif. Jews itlio-were interested m -forniniji a nucleus for tho fund, men like' Nathan Straus, Jacob H; Pchiff, Marion Travis, and Eugene -Meyer, junr., and women liko Mrs. Mary Fels, did not realise when they gave their first contributions that their responso was to save the population of Jerusalem from complete starvation. -But, according to information recently conveyed to tho Zionist; leaders here by the State Department, that was what happened. ■ . The first money turned into the fumi was cabled-to tho Anglo-Palestine Bank, the centre of Jewish enterprise in 1 alestine, run under international Zionist auspices. The bunk, -v;hich had been closed since the- early days of tho war, was thus ennliled to open its branches atJntt'a and Jerusalem. At tho time tho credit arrived the funds of the American Jewish Belief Committee, which had been looking after the needs of tho warstricken inhabitants in Jerusalem, naoy been exhausted for three months, mid the great mass of the population was confronted with ftnrvntion. Tho directors of the bank immediately voted a substantial credit to the Jerusalem rcnresontative of the American Jewish Relief Committee, enabling it to resume its ministrations. In addition to the'immedmto work of reconstruction' and 'c-estiiblishment. inclndine the.maklnsr of necessary _ plans and surveys for harbours, roads, irrieation iiroi>cts, waterworks, n'ui othor public utilities necoswrv for the. welfare of the country, the P;ilo?tinp fund'will be used to maintain educational, vocational, and ap-icultnral schools, nnd build up a irre.it Hebrew university; to make loan* to prnsnccHvi colonists. n"d to sunnort: .(Im Zionist Bureau in 7'nlpitino. will iitlviso nnd insist t)rosn f, ' , tiyf. coionisls. wi' 1 f" esliiblish Hip political foundations of Hip new siutp.