Dutch Paper Suggests Autonomous Jewish Area Guaranteed by World Powers

Establishment of an internationally-guaranteed territory for Jews unable to continue their existence in Europe after the end of the war is urged editorially by the Haagsche Post, a leading Netherlands weekly.

“Nobody can predict with certainty when and how the war will end,” the editorial says. “However, there can be no doubt that we must prepare for peace. We must now study all problems which the peace conference will have to solve. One can assume that there will be no other Versailles Conference, but no matter how the war will end an international congress will be called in which all the neutrals, at any rate the most important of them, will be represented. Among the questions with which the peace conference will have to deal will be the Jewish problem in Eastern and Central Europe, which will have a not unimportant place.”

After outlining the economic, social and political developments since the last war which have brought about increasing elimination of Jews from economic positions and expulsion of many from Central Europe, the periodical suggests the following Jewish demands:

(1) Upbuilding of Palestine must be continued;

(2) If Palestine cannot absorb the masses which must leave Eastern and Central Europe, a territory must be designated where the Jews can lead an autonomous existence–either something like a British dominion or a territory with an internationally-guaranteed status–and where all Jews could settle who have no possibility of existence in their present homes;

(3) Equal rights for the Jews who remain in their home countries.

The editorial expresses the belief that an agreement among the various Jewish parties could be reached on this basis. It urges a united Jewish front and suggests that the Jews immediately investigate colonization possibilities in various areas of the world.