Hope Glows in Palestine, Felix Warburg Reports
Colonists Surmount Early Obstacles and Now See Daylight Ahead
Out of horrors that followed bad advice, over-enthusiasm and inevitable disease, there are growing colonies in Palestine that begin to shape themselves into the forms of the dreams that first visited the leaders in the Jewish homeland movement.
Looking over the historic hills that stretch from Haifa on the coast to Jerusalem, one wonders how any people can exist there unless they be indigenous to the rocky, resisting soil. Ancient terraces that served to hold the shallow soil of the hills are still used and upon them one sees a slight vegetation and olive trees. There seems to be just enough green to keep alive the goats and cattle that grub there. It is this soil the average tourist sees, and it is the appearance of this part of Palestine that has caused the American visitors to say the Jews from Russia and Roumania can never make a living from it.
But there are other parts of Palestine where a bit of water turns the soil into what seems a
duplicate of the Promised Land. It is in such garden spots that the Jews who have run from religious persecution and poverty have found their new homes.
The Arabs are still the predominating people in Palestine and the immigration sponsored by the Zionists has done little if anything to disturb the proportion .
Regarding the dream of an independent state, Felix Warburg, who recently made a jour-nev to Palestine to see how the plans of American Jews were working out, says:
"Some of us feel that a Jewish political state is so far removed from actuality that it does not need any present serious thought. For this generation, and probably for the next, Palestine will remain a colony under the mandate and administration of Great Britain, which Government will go on with its usual'constructive colonial policy, I am sure. This policy will undoubtedly provide
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what the population as a whole needs."
This is the opinion of a man who has given much money and thought to the repopulating of Palestine with Jews, though he is not and never was a Zionist.
A casual survey of the country will convince almost any one that the introduction of modern agricultural or industrial methods by the Jews will completely rout the Arabs who are there. These people hold to the customs of their ancestors with religious tenacity. The old way seems good enough.
Mr. Warburg touched upon this when he mentioned the opposition that had been raised by the Arabs to the hydro-electric projects of the Jews. These innovations are absolutely necessary for the development of the country, but -the Arabs, content with the manner of their forebears, resented the intrusion of modernity. For a time serious trouble was threatened. Some feel that this threat still exists, but with the British in control and the number of Jews con-, stantly increasing, others hold that the Arab must change his ways or fall without any struggle whatever.
It seems to Mr. Warburg that the Arabs are changing their ways.   For instance, one of the
most important of the Arab journals has put in an.order for the power that will be developed when the big contemplated station is finished. This symbolizes some sort of surrender, for when the station was first suggested this paper led the opposition to it. Now, at the moment of its capitulation, Mr. Warburg finds the Jewish homeland safe.   He said:
"I am decidedly optimistic about the situation in Palestine when I contrast the impressions of a trip three years ago with those of to-day. At that time political matters and immigration statements were discussed but vaguely. In the present attitude I find a commendable desire of co-operation and most conservative prognostications.
"I had the advantage, of discussingt these questions |with the High** Commissioner, who represents the Government, with the Executive Committee of the Zionist ^organization and with people decidedly interested but connected with no organization.
*4t is no longer a question of
whether  the   colonies   can   be
: fhade successful.      A number
of the older ones are that to-day,
a number of the younger ones are
nearly self-supporting and some
in  the experimental stage are
promising well.      One cainnot
see a colony like Hedira without (Continued on page 10)
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