[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval-Editor.]
The international movement now under way to purchase for a public museum the home of Baruch Spinoza in the Hague, is termed by the N. Y. “Telegram” (Dec. 9) as “a long delayed honor which the Dutch thinker richly deserves.” The paper remarks:
” ‘Since history first wrote and philosophy first meditated,’ to borrow an apt phrase from Victor Hugo, no man more worthy of the philosopher’s crown than Spinoza has delivered his message to the world. Along with Roger Bacon, Descartes, Lord Bacon, Kant and Darwin, Spinoza occupies a place in the history of mankind reserved only for those whose intellects have pointed the way to higher things,”
URGE LORD ALLENBY FOR NEXT HIGH COMMISSIONER
The report that upon the resignation of Lord Plumer as High Commissioner of Palestine, Lord Allenby, conqueror of Palestine, and until recently High Commissioner of Egypt, will be appointed to that post, is hailed by the Jewish press as welcome news.
Lord Allenby is known as having a very favorable attitude to Zionism and the Jewish reconstruction work in Palestine and hence, the “Jewish Daily News” points out, his appointment as Palestine’s next High Commissioner would be in the interests of the Jews and should be urged upon England by the Zionist organization.
“Recently Allenby expressed himself very warmly on various occasions regarding the Zionist work in Palestine and regarding the Jewish achievements there. Allenby is the kind of man who does not say much, who does not become enthused easily and does not cool down easily either. He is a military man not given to eloquent phraseology and the fact that he spoke about the Jewish reconstruction work with a good deal of enthusiasm indicates that he understands Zionism and sympathizes with it.”
The paper warns against a repetition of the case of Lord Plumer’s appointment which came as a surprise to the Zionist leadership who were not consulted or advised of the step by England. “The Zionist Organization must see to it,” the paper urges, “that it should not be left uninformed; even if the government in London is contemplating to appoint Allenby to succeed Plumer, the Zionist Organization should be recognized by the British government and consulted in such an important matter as the appointment of a High Commissioner.”
The “Jewish Morning Journal,” which takes a similar view, dwells on Allenby’s attitude to Zionism and observes: “His name is historically associated with the Holy Land because he was the latest of the great military men to conquer it. He knows that he walked in the path of great kings and generals of the past who led armies into Palestine and he is deeply interested in the country. He is a diligent student of the Bible and understands the original language of the Holy Scriptures…. Allenby’s name has a meaning for the Jewish world as well as for the general world. He is one of the giants of the British Empire and any post he occupies assumes greater importance for that reason alone. The substantiation of the report that he will be appointed as next High Commissioner would come as very happy news for the whole world.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
