Between the Lines

The approval given by the French government for the admission of ten thousand East European Jews to Syria is a matter which will eventually lead toward a clash between Zionists and those who do not believe in Zionism.

This approval is a result of negotiations with the Foreign Office in France, carried on for many months by non-Zionist elements. Emphasis was made during the negotiations that the Jews would be willing to settle in parts of Syria not neighboring Palestine, The League for Defending Jewish Rights, the organization responsible for the negotiations, has made it clear that its main interest in the project was to find territories for the oppressed Jews from East European countries. Whether these territories would be adjacent to Palestine or not was not a matter of importance to the League.

NEW ORGANIZATION FORMED

It was for this reason that the French High Commissioner, at first opposing any Jewish immigration into Syria, finally agreed to permit the entrance of ten thousand Jews. In giving his permission, however, he stipulated the following two conditions: firstly, that the Jews should be settled in various parts of the country and not only in those parts which border Palestine; secondly, that no Jewish colonization be started before a special organization for settling Jews on land is organized.

Such an organization, we understand, is now in the process of being formed in Paris. It consists chiefly of Jews who are not so favorably inclined to the Zionist idea. These Jews are not interested in the creation of a Jewish national home but in finding new lands for Jewish immigration, wherever these lands may be.

COMPETITION TO ZIONISM

Once this organization is formed, a clash between its leaders and the Zionist leaders is unavoidable. Already the plans worked out by the leaders of the movement to settle Jews in Syria provide for the seeking of funds to cultivate areas in parts of Syria which are quite distant from Palestine. As soon as the campaign for such funds is started it will result in a direct competition with the Zionist campaigns conducted for Jewish settlement in Palestine.

The League for the Defense of Jewish Rights has now completed a plan which will also hardly be approved by nationalist – minded Zionist leaders. Dealing with the selection of immigrants, this plan provides definitely for the adaption of the Jews to the customs of Syria and the obligatory study of Arabic and French.

BARON GUINZBOURG’S ROLE

Another project is now being completed by the League, of which Senator Justin Godart is the president. It provides for small model self-supporting farms for the Jewish settlers, hardly dependent upon exports and entirely independent of the world market. This project too, will divert to Syria much of the capital now flowing into Palestine.

Many will no doubt be interested to learn that in addition to Senator Godart the plan of settling Jews in Syria is receiving tremendous support also from Baron Guinzbourg. Both Senator Godart and Baron Guinzbourg are of the opinion that the diverse character of the inhabitants of the four Syrian states and of the autonomous Sandjak of Alexandretta, which has about a dozen different sects, will facilitate the acclimatization of Jewish colonists to the local condition.