The Maccabaean

THE best characterization of the Zionist work at the Peace Conference in Paris was uttered by a Frenchman, M. Monzie, member of the Chamber of Deputies and Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the French Cabinet. M. Monzie has generally been reputed as a friend of Zionism, until one day, in February his real tendencies were discovered and his "Zionism" was shattered. He is the President of the Syrian Society in Paris, an organization that has always shown its unfriendliness toward the Jewish National movement. It is fortunate that the influence of that society is practically negligible notwithstanding the constant support it has been receiving from the French Press, including the so-called Government organs, such as Le Temps and Journal des Debats.

It was at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Organization, in the rooms of the Ligue Nauale, that I learned what others, who know, thought of the efforts of the Zionists. I was present there, as a newspaperman, and meaningfully during the entire conference at the invitation of M. Monzie. Of course there were clear lines of opposition to Zionism drawn by every speaker, although it was done formerly in every instance. One of the members, a former general in the French Colonial Army, who gave a detailed report of the work of the Zionists, which he deemed as interfering with the interests of the Syrians, said:

“I know all the Zionist leaders more or less intimately. I made it my business to watch their work for their cause. In my opinion, no single small nationality has labored as energetically or worked as vigilantly as the Jewish nationalists have done, in the last few weeks especially. I wish we Syrians would follow in the footsteps of the leaders of this unorganized, undisciplined, scattered Jewish Nation. Should they succeed in their demands, as developments at present seem to indicate, it will be due purely to their exceptional abilities in the fields of politics and diplomacy and to their constant vigilant campaign. We friends of Syria, with the tacit support of the French Government and the press, have up to this moment made much less of an impression upon the Peace Congress and even upon our own French delegates than have the Zionist leaders and their friends. I hardly need to emphasize the point that, should they succeed, and particularly as their views are expounded by their extreme wing by Dr. B., our cause is lost and our efforts all these years, since we have been organized, have been put out in vain.”

The general was then interrupted by the chairman of the committee, M. Monzie, who said: “My own observation of the entire problem leads me to the same conclusion. I second every word uttered by the General and, if I be permitted, I would add that the Zionists have played their game even more cleverly than those nationalities who have been accorded official representation at the Peace Table at Quai D’Orsay. Neither we nor the Zionists have accredited, recognized representatives at the Conference, but from my own observations I am convinced that one of their number, either M. Sokolow or Dr. Weizmann, is constantly advised

* Mr. Fink, who has just returned from the Peace Conference at Paris, is the compiler of the book, "The American War Congress and Zionism," published by the Zionist Organization of America.

and consulted as though he were a member at the Conference."

I thought it advisable to quote the above statements as I jotted them down at the time in my note book. It shows us how the other nationalities at Paris evaluate the splendid work of the Zionists. This situation is very significant, indeed, because our work, while undoubtedly imperfect, has certainly deserved the highest praise as compared with the work of others. Dr. Boris D. Bogen, for example, because of his Relief Mission, had an excellent opportunity to study the work of the Zionists at close range. In discussing the matter with me he said: “There is one thing I am ready to concede at all times, namely, that the Zionist leaders have been employing more effective political wisdom than any other party or organization that I have come in contact with in the many years of my connection with various social institutions.”

And one who was in a position to watch the work of the Zionist leaders at Paris could not help but get that impression. I was very fortunately placed during my stay in Paris and in London to become intimately acquainted with all the Zionist leaders who were assigned to take up the Zionist cause at the Peace Conference. I knew practically all their movements and followed them up by interviews with the persons whom the Zionist leaders had visited. I can, therefore, very easily understand the reasons for all these words of praise showered upon us by the Parisian anti-Zionists as well as by those in Paris who are indifferent to the movement.

And while I am ready to concur with the expressions quoted above, I believe it appropriate in this connection to offer a few words of friendly criticism. It seems to me, and I have excellent grounds for my views, that our leaders appeared too late on the arena of world diplomacy in France. It is probable that the Organization was retarded by the inability of some European delegates to arrive in time, due to war conditions. However, no matter what the cause, the effect was the same. Judging by the excellent results achieved during the short period of time, I deem that much more could have been accomplished if the Zionist Bureau had started functioning at least about the beginning of December. During the six weeks’ delay, every minute of which was precious, it is not improbable that more might have been accomplished. It is a fact, as I cabled at the time, that the matter of a sitting Jewish delegate at the Peace Table was discussed by the “Big Ten,” representing the five great powers, and there were no organized Zionists there to appear and speak in favor of this most important proposition. It appears to me, judging by the able and diligent work of our leaders, as demonstrated afterward, that the chances in favor of having a Zionist at the Peace Table were better than the average person would imagine. However, it is just as likely that the presence or absence of this Jewish representative may have brought no material difference in the final results. Theoretically, however, it would have marked the absolute recognition by the Allies of a separate Jewish nation and a possible independent state in Palestine.