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Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160737, 25 August 1920, Page 11

BACK TO PALESTINE

THE HOMING OF THE JEWS. A ZIONIST MESSENGER. WITH A ME— VGE FOR NEW ZEALAND If there he anything in the AngloIsracl theory the part the British are taking in the return of the Jews to the Holy Itmd was foreordained, but even if there be nesting in the idea that we are cne of the lest tribes, this question ef making grc*-n -he waste places of Palestine and making it once more a land flowing with milk and lioney, is cne that appeals very powerfully to the imagination. The world owes much to the land which was the cradle of three religions, and it mist always hold a peculiar fascination for the British. The British Government- views with approval the establishment of a national home for tite Jews in Palestine, and this decision has been endorsed by the French, Italian, and American Governments. In order to explain to us of the overseas Dominions the full significance of this decision winch was arrived at by tho Peace Conference there landed in Auckland the ether day from the Niagara Mr Israel Cohen, a noted journalist, lecturer. and writer, who conies as the special envoy of tho central executive of the Zionist organisation. In addition to this explanation, Mr Cohen’s mission includes the strengthening of the j Zionist branches throughout Australasia., and the reliction of funds to enable the great t; of the redemption of Palestine to be carried out. Speaking to an Auckland Star reporter, Mr Cohen was emphatic in his belief in the since?* of the great task which the Zionists have set themselves. He pointed out that there are thousand* of Jews wailing ana anxious to g° hue!: to the land .-.f their fathers. They were mainly p--cj>le of south and southeastern Ear on.?, wr.eio the condition* under which the Jews lived were harder than nnvwbuv <■!-,> n the world. No, In sari, in. answer to a question, there was iw-t ibe slightest intent ion to look for fi-ulus among the Jews in tho British ov'-rsCLi- Dominions. Even if they want-d i> go to Palestine there were so rniay people with prior claim.) that they would leave to wait a long time. Ircid.-ntally, Mr Cohen pointed out that in the whole of Australasia there ware probably not more than 2.:-,000 Jews—less than there were in the town of Leeds, for u stance. What he wanted was their moral and material support of the Zionist cause. He had already collected £44/100, although’ ho ► L A only visited four cities in Australia, and was certain he would augment that when ho paid a return visit. Por the next twelve months the organisation would require about £3,800,0 c) for immigration! afforestation, drainage, and other preliminary work in Palestine. Ho was quite confident that the great ideal of the Zionists was going to he carried out, and he was also confident that his co-religionists of Australasia, who, tbongli comparatively small in nnnd-er, werelnflucntial, would help substantially. Speaking of the interest of the British race in the rehabilitation of the lews, Mr Cohen pointed out that apart altogether from the sentimental appeal! it was a matter of sound common sense to support the movement. With Palestine settled by a contented Jewish people under the aegis of the British there would oe a splendid barrier of protection far the vital Suez Canal, which was the point of the remarkable Turkish attacks in the earlier stages of the war.