would dispose of it far more effectively than would any theoretic considerations. For in the full list of Christian sympathizers with Zionism, the anti-Semites would be seen to be an inconspicuous minority, while the noble minded George Eliots, Dunants and Holman Hunts would prove to be the true types of the Christian advocates of Zionism. In addition, it would recall unanswerable facts, such as the opposition to Zionism expressed by the Conference of anti-Semites in Hamburg in 1899, on the ground that Zionism awakened sympathy for Jews among the Christians.
Thirdly, the gathering of this Christian testimony to Zionism would have an invaluable moral effect on all Jews, Zionist and non-Zionist alike. We are still swayed more than we usually realize by a consideration of Mah Yomeru Hagoyim. If we were armed with a full knowledge of Christian approval of Zionism, we Zionists would gain valuable added confidence in the speedy attainment of our cause, which would inspirit us and carry us far, and the non-Zionists among us would be far more ready to give heed to Zionistic claims when set forth with the added approval of the notable representatives of Christian peoples.
In the fourth place, and this is perhaps the most important consideration, the time is very rapidly approaching when our Jewish claims must be voiced through the instrument of the Jewish Congress. Foremost in the hearts of some of us is our claim to Palestine. The incalculable changes in the political situation brought about by the world war are bringing the time very near when for the first time in nineteen hundred years we shall as a whole nation make our demand for the opportunity of reconstituting ourselves in Palestine. The power behind that demand must be the will of the Jewish people. But another power that will add impressive strength to the demand will be the voice of the non-Jewish world. Are we prepared to lay before the Powers a complete memorial of the modern Christian demand for the restoration of the Jewish people to Palestine ?
Let no one object that this policy of availing ourselves of Christian advocacy of Zionism is inconsistent with the
Zionist policy of self-help. Such a criticism would be a travesty of the independence which characterizes Zionist policy. What is here advocated is not reliance on non-Jews or putting our trust in favors. It is self-help in its fullest form, the self-help that makes legitimate use of every legitimate means for the attainment of our hope.
Let us therefore in the immediate future appoint a special bureau or commission with a threefold purpose. Its first duty should be to collect all the extant expressions of Zionist sympathy made by non-Jews of standing. The preparatory work has been done in a measure by Emil Kronberger in his Zionisten und Christen, 1900, and by Hugo Hoppe, Hervorragende Nichtjuden weber den Zionismus, 1904. But, so far as is known to the writer, there is no such work that takes account of the last twelve years.
We must rely not only on this gathering of scattered opinions from books, magazines and the current press; but the second duty of the bureau or commission must be to conduct an active campaign to obtain expressions of opinion. There are numberless prominent Christian men and women and Christian organizations, even Church organizations, which have never expressed themselves in favor of Zionism simply because the occasion for such an expression of opinion has never been presented to them. We could obtain such statements for the asking. Will it not be a culpable neglect if we fail to take advantage of this opportunity?
Lastly, it should be the duty of this bureau or commission to obtain every possible publicity for these philo-Zionistic views of the non-Jewish world, through articles in the press and magazines, pamphlets and books.
This triple activity, efficiently conducted, would invest our Zionist position with new strength, by scotching the serpent-like accusation of hyphenated patriotism, by giving us new confidence in the success of our cause, and by bringing to bear on the Christian world the reinforcement of an impressive mass of Christian opinion which may finally turn our struggle into a victory.