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No. 22. Vienna, 31 May 1901. Fifth Year

Dr. Herzl's Reception by the Sultan.

In our last number we reported upon the exceedingly gracious reception which was accorded to Dr. Herzl by His Majesty the Sultan.

To report upon the substance of the highly important audience and of the conferences does not, for the present, appear to be timely.

*

We content ourselves with recording in what follows a few voices of the press.

The "Jewish Chronicle" (anti-Zionist, as is well known) gives, in several places of its number of 24 May, communications and discussions concerning Dr. Herzl's audience with the Sultan, from which we take the following:

"We have no news as to what Dr. Herzl's actual mission was and what the result has been, and Dr. Herzl will doubtless reserve everything he has to say upon the subject for the proceedings of the Congress. But the mere fact that he and his colleagues have been received by the Sultan as Zionists must in any case be of the highest significance. For the audience refutes once and for all the assertions that have been put forward, that the Sultan refuses to take the Zionist proposals into consideration. To inform Dr. Herzl of that, no audience would have been necessary; just as little would an audience have been promised had the Sultan's intentions towards the movement been hostile, as has been represented in certain quarters. (Thus, for example, by the reports which the 'Politische Correspondenz' launched this winter. Note of the Editors.) The Zionists have therefore the right to congratulate themselves upon this success, and we have a fresh proof of the Sultan's benevolent disposition towards our people. If the Zionist deputation was able to convince the Sultan that Zionism has in view the raising up and strengthening of Palestine, its regeneration and its transformation into a source of gain and of power for the Turkish Empire, then Dr. Herzl will have secured an immense advance for the movement which is bound up with his name, and will have rendered no small service to Jewry as a whole."

*

The same journal reports an interview which its correspondent had with Dr. Herzl in Constantinople. Dr. Herzl expressed himself as follows:

"His Majesty granted me a reception than which none more cordial could be conceived. I have gained the conviction that the Jews of the whole world have no better friend than Sultan Abdul Hamid... I leave Constantinople entirely satisfied with the result of my journey."

*

"Hazefirah" writes of Dr. Herzl's reception by the Sultan, among other things, as follows:

"The best guide for the judgment of events of this kind is neither the acuteness of the over-clever nor the mockery of the wits, but plain common sense; neither the itch to belittle on the one side nor enthusiasm on the other, but sober and clear consideration. Plain common sense can give us information about the significance of the audience and about its results — not merely by way of conjecture, but with entire certainty — without our having first to investigate, or to display acuteness, or to procure intelligence from behind the scenes. The endeavour of political Zionism is clear. It seeks to create in Palestine favourable conditions for a centralisation of the emigration of those Jews who are compelled to leave their places of abode, so that they may settle there and develop freely in a normal manner, in a life full of work, of honour and of security of right, in agreement with Turkey and with the Powers. To this end the President of the Actions Committee had to enter into negotiations with Turkey and with the Powers in the matter of the concession, be it called Charter or otherwise. We know that he has done everything that lay in his power, and that it is possible for him to accomplish much of importance in this matter. His words have found a hearing with many governments. As yet no definite arrangements have been concluded, but in many high quarters men have begun to