The Maccabaean

(The following article appears in the special Palestine Number of "DIE WELT" published on October 17th.).

THE American Ambassador to Turkey, the Hon. Oscar S. Straus, who was on a visit in London a few weeks ago has ben interviewed by a representative of the Jewish Chronicle on the condition of the Jews in the Turkish Empire. The views expressed by the eminent diplomatist are naturally of considerable interest, for he is now acting as the representative of the United States Government in Constantinople for the third term, and he combines with high statesmanlike qualities a keen solicitude for the welfare of his fellow-Jews. After dealing with the activity of the Haham Bashi, Haim Nahoum, and the general economic position of the Jews in Turkey, Mr. Straus was asked about the attitude of the Turkish Government to the Jewish population and to the Zionist movement. His answer to these inquiries are of particular interest to us. but unfortunately they betray a lack of accurate information and call for careful correction. In view of the importance of the matter it will be best to reproduce this portion of the interview here before proceeding to exmaine it in detail.

"What is the attitude of the Turkish Government to the Jewish population?"

"The attitude of the Government towards the Jewish population is that of entire equality. I have never seen any evidence of prejudice or heard of any restriction except in regard to immigration into Palestine."

"To what do you attribute these restrictions?"

"I attribute them to two causes. The

first is that the Turkish Government look upon the Jewish immigration as the representatives of a foreign nationality, principally-Russian; and, secondly, the Zionist propaganda has certainly prejudiced the Government, especially under the new régime, which is particularly solicitous to prevent the formation of new nationalities and to consolidate the Empire."

"Does the Government look upon Zionist aspirations as involving separatist tendencies?"

"They do regard Zionism as having ultimately in view the carving out of a separate state."

Mr. Straus went on to draw attention to a curious effect Zionism has had on the situation of the Jews in Jerusalem.

"I think, he said, 'that any one who visits Jerusalem cannot fail to come to the conclusion that Zionism has increased the misery of the Jews in the Holy City, in that it has—perhaps indirectly—stimulated the emigration of Jews, many of whom are incompetent to earn their own living, and thereby has augmented the misery prevailing in Jerusalem."

"I do not wish to be understood as opposing any practical form of colonization for the Jews —whether it be Zionism, Territorialism, or what not—that will offer to the unfortunate refugees from Russia and other oppressed lands a guarantee of human rights."

According to Mr. Straus, therefore, the Turkish Government is prejudiced against the immigration of Jews into Palestine, firstly, because it looks upon Jewish immigrants "as the representatives of a foreign nationality, principally Russian," and secondly because it is "particularly solicitous to prevent the formation of new nationalities and to consolidate the Empire."