The strict application of a "democracy principle" by numbers was unfair because, as also Jabotinsky wrote, due to exile and dispersion and persecution, the Jewish population of the Land of Israel of course was not on par with those who had invade, conquered and occupied the country. To count heads even before the Zionist movement had a chance to open up the gates to immigration and then future economic development was harming Jewish historical rights.
Source: Weisgasl, Meyer & Reinharz, J. (eds.), The Letters and Papers of Chaim Weizmann, Vol. IX - Series A, p. 105
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FOREWORD
(this has been "read" from a scanned copy so there are letters missing or wrong but I left it as it is at the site)
The author has chosen a title worthy of his subject, which he treats with loving care. The Holy Land is in truth " The Home of Fadeless Splendour," and of imperishable mt-mories for the followers of three of the religions of the world. In it their fore-fathers have in turn striven, triumphed, and failed.
Standing at the gateway of the Orient, it has been from time immemorial the scene of desperate stniggles for mastery by the nations of the East and West, culminating in Alh uby's la^«t great cnisade of 1917-1918. That crusade opened up for Palestine and its people a future such as poUtically it never had before — of lasting peace and freedom from aggression, guaranteed b\' the Allied Powers.
To myself, as first Chief Administrator, together with a band of loyal and able colleagues, selected for the most part from the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, fell the honour of assisting the country to recover from the loss and privation of four years of war, and of first applying to its people the principles of British freedom and justice, and of equal treatment for all races, classes, and creeds. Their generous and whole-hearted response was a convincing testimony of their ability — under wise and impartial guidance — to fulfil their rightful destiny in the world.
The uninformed visitor is, perhaps not unnaturall\-, inclined to make unfavourable comparisons between the somewhat squalid villageb and primitive cultivation of the Christian and Moslem peasants and the flourishing appearance and up-to-date methods of the Jewish colonies ; and he will probably form tlie erroneous conclusion that the Palestinian in general is an idle and thriftless cidtivator. He is, on the contrary, a cheerful and willing worker, when he has anything to work for.
It must be remembered that these Jewish colonies, carefully located on specially selected sites, have had the advantage of powerful financial and political backing from European sources [creeping antisemitism there], and the assistance of expert agricultural advisers. The same backing also served to protect the colonists to some extent from the exactions of the Turkish tax-gatherer.
The Palestinian, on the other hand. li\ing for centuries un the blight of Turkish rule, had little incentive to work i progress when the result of his labour would benefit chiefly individuals to whom the collection of the agricultural ti (actually 125 per cent.) was farmed out by the local governm^ He soon reacted, however, to the improved conditions and p pects, opened up to him under Briti^h Administration, of secu for hfe and property, impartial justice, and an equitable a.- ment and collection of taxes. His speedy recovery, indeed, f the lethargy of centuries was Uttle short of marvellous, and w tribute to his inherent sterhng qualities.
Although it cannot truthfully be described at the present (except in certain favoured localities, as "a land flowing with and honey", the mainstay of the country is agriculture; what the farmer and peasant chiefly need are assitance in the form of agricultural loans, to enable them to improve t stock and mithods of cultivation, expert advice, and especi political stability.
The burning political qucbtion of the day, which overshad all others in the eyes of all classes and creeds, is the 7ic question, and the interpretation plac( d by the Mandatory P( on the Balfour declaration — as it is called. It is not too muc
state that on a just and wise solution of this problem depends whole future peace and prospc rity of Palestine, as also the finar commitments of the Mandatory Power.
The Home of Fadeless Splendour will npjx-al to a large \aried cla^s of reader as a true and faithful picture of the Land, its past history, and its present condition. It not naturally passes Hghtly over the operations of " The Last (sade," but a perusal of it will recdl to soldiers all over the Em many of the scenes of their triumph, and will also convey to th in fuller detail than they were able to acquire during brief v] of inspection, the story of places and sites long familiar to tl from sacred and secular history.
The religious pilgrim and the tourist will find a fund accurate and interesting information about most of the H Places they will wish to visit, in a form not of the guide-book, rather as it appeared to another interested and enthusia pilgrim in Palestine. To myself the pages of the book call b memories oi the closing and perhaps most enthrallmg phast my military' career : friends of many nations, classes and cree^ a band of colleagues second to none, to whom work for the g( of the country and its people was in truth a labour of love ; and, astly, memory-pictures of many scenes of " fadeless splendour " the view from the Mount of Ohves of the Holy City at sunrise, ind of the Dead Sea at sunset with the Mountains of Moab in the )ackground ; the Plain of Esdralon from Nazareth ; the Sea of Galilee from the western plateau ; the Bay of Acre from Carmel . . memories and scenes that \vill ever remain enshrined in my leart.
Llvington Hall, A. V. MONEY.
Ipswich.
July 15 1921
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