Notes on the Diplomatic History of the Jewish Question Part 19

(F.O. Docs., 64/235.)

_Lord Beauvale to Lord Palmerston._

VIENNA, _March 2nd, 1841_.

MY LORD,--The King of Prussia has sent His Minister at this Court a proposition for regulating the position of the Christians in Syria, which, if it were acted upon, would in Prince Metternich's opinion throw that Country into inextricable confusion. His Highness transmitted a few days back a memorandum on the subject to London which He persists in regarding as establis.h.i.+ng the only advantageous mode of treating the question, and as He purposes drawing up a statement of his objections to the Prussian proposition, He earnestly entreats that no acquiescence may be given to any part of it on behalf of the British Government until those objections have been submitted to Your Lords.h.i.+p.

I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, My Lord,

Your Lords.h.i.+p's Most Obedient Humble Servant,

BEAUVALE.

THE VISCOUNT PALMERSTON, G.C.B.

(F.O. Docs., 7/298.)

_Lord Palmerston to Lord Beauvale, (Draft)._

F.O., _March 11th, 1841_.

MY LORD,--With reference to Your Excellency's despatch No. 38 of the 2nd instant reporting Prince Metternich's objections to the Prussian scheme for regulating the position of the Christians in Syria, I have to inform Your Excellency that H.M.'s Government agree very much with Prince Metternich's as to that scheme.

P.

(F.O. Docs. 1/296.)

_Memorandum of Austrian Government delivered to Lord Palmerston by Prince Esterhazy, March 31, 1841._

Sur le Memorandum du 3 Fevrier[141] et le memoire Prussien, relativement a la protection des Chretiens en Syrie.

La difference entre le memorandum du 3 fev. et le memoire prussien consiste en ce que le premier fournit un moyen pratique pour _porter remede_ au mal existant, sans entreprendre une reforme dangereuse, tandis que l'autre tend a introduire _un nouvel ordre de choses_ en faveur de la representation de l'eglise evangelique, par des moyens inexecutables.

_Le travail du 3 fevr._ se base sur la verite, que ni les populations chretiennes sedentaires et mouvantes, ni les couvens des trois confessions, catholique, grecque et armenienne, n'ont jamais eu a se plaindre d'un manque de tolerance musulmane. C'est un temoignage irrecusable qu'on peut recueillir sur les lieux aupres de ceux meme qui y sont les plus interesses.

Des firmans sans nombre, relatifs a des privileges et a la donation de lieux saints aux environs de Jerusalem, Bethlehem et Nazareth se trouvent deposes aux archives des differens couvens, et s'ils n'ont point ete mis en execution et forment le sujet de disputes continuelles entre les trois confessions, la faute n'en est pas au Gouvernement Turc, mais uniquement _a la venalite_ des Musselims, comme autorites locales.

L'execution des firmans toujours mise arbitrairement a un prix tres eleve est devenu de la part des Musselims une speculation financiere.

La desunion regrettable qui regne entre les confessions, ou comme on les appelle sur les lieux, les trois nations, exploite cette corruptibilite, tantot pour suspendre l'execution d'un firman jalouse, tantot pour obtenir moyennant l'intervention du Musselim un second firman annullant le premier, ce qui a surtout lieu, lorsqu'il s'agit de la donation d'un lieu saint. En pareil cas la confession la plus offrante est sure d'atteindre son but et rien n'est plus a desirer que _la punition severe du trafic illicite et honteux_, qui se pratique avec les firmans et l'irrevocabilite _de ceux une fois emanes_.

C'est donc en parfaite connoissance du veritable siege du mal, que le memorandum du 3 fevrier _a cherche le remede dans le renfort de l'action tutelaire du Gouv. par un employe sultanique special d'un rang a.s.sez eleve pour etre place a cote des Musselims; employe qui serait charge directement de tout ce qui aurait rapport aux lieux saints et aux pelerins--qui serait mis en contact avec les Representans des Gouvernement Chretiens nommes ad hoc, sous la denomination de procureurs et qui ne recevrait d'ordres que de Constantinople ou les plaintes elevees contre lui seraient portees a la connoissance du Gouvernement dans la voie diplomatique_.

_Le memoire prussien_ tendant a etablir sur les lieux une representation de l'eglise evangelique et sa partic.i.p.ation aux fondations existantes, suscite une question _toute nouvelle_, dont la portee n'est pas a calculer.

Sans considerer l'opposition de Rome, du St. Synode de St. Petersbourg, et du Patriarchat grec a Constantinople le memoire suggere des moyens qui, loin de porter remede au mal existant, feraient naitre des nouvelles complications et accroitre la desunion parmi les confessions chretiennes. Ce regrettable resultat serait surtout amene par les points suivans du memoire prussien:

A. _La propriete des lieux saints a Jerusalem, Bethlehem et Nazareth pa.s.serait aux cinq grandes Puissances._

Mais cette propriete est aux differentes confessions, qui deja jalouses de la partager entre _trois_, ne voudraient certainement pas faire une cession de droits acquis, en faveur d'une _quatrieme pretendant_.

B. _Les Chretiens evangeliques auraient dans l'eglise du St. Sepulcre a Jerusalem et dans celle de Bethlehem des parties specialement destinees a leur usage._

Mais dans ces deux eglises chaque pouce de terrain est dispute par les trois confessions. Toute la Basilique de Bethlehem fut adjugee, il y a 80 ans, aux Grecs; en vertu d'un firman obtenu par des sommes considerables, eux et les Armeniens possedent _seuls_ la propriete de la Grotte de la Nativite; les moins franciscains n'osent point y dire la messe, et il n'y a que l'autel de la Ste. Creche qui appartienne a ces derniers. Dans le temple de Jerusalem existent les memes subdivisions exclusives. Chaque chapelle forme pour ainsi dire une monopole; celle du Calvaire est partagee en deux--l'autel des Grecs occupant la place de l'exaltation de la croix, celui des Catholiques celle du crucifiement.

Comment faire entrer une quatrieme confession dans un partage deja si conteste? La repart.i.tion toute faite de localites dont la propriete est aussi hautement appreciee par la confession qui la possede qu'enviee par la confession qui voudrait l'usurper, s'opposerait du reste a une pareille entreprise.

C. _Chaque Puissance, qui nommerait un resident, mettrait a sa disposition 60 soldats._

A part d'autres considerations qui rendent ce moyen inadmissible, il fournirait des armes a une guerre de religion en pet.i.t qui, vu les elemens de jalousie et de discorde deja existans, ne manquerait pas d'eclater.

(F.O. Docs. 7/302.)

BRITISH JEWS AND PALESTINE, 1841-1843.

_Colonel Churchill to Sir Moses Montefiore._

_June 14th, 1841._

MY DEAR SIR MOSES,--I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing from you, but I would fain hope that my letters have reached you safe.

I enclose you a pet.i.tion which has been drawn by the Brothers Harari, in which they state their claims and their earnest desire to be immediately under British protection. I am sorry to say that such a measure is much required even now, not only for them, but also for all the Jews in Damascus.

They are still liable to persecutions similar to those from which, through your active and generous intervention, they have so lately escaped. The Christians still regard them with malevolence, and the statement in the pet.i.tion enclosed is perfectly correct.

I cannot conceal from you my most anxious desire to see your countrymen endeavour once more to resume their existence as a people. I consider the object to be perfectly attainable. But, two things are indispensably necessary. Firstly, that the Jews will themselves take up the matter universally and unanimously. Secondly, that the European Powers will aid them in their views. It is for the Jews to make a commencement. Let the princ.i.p.al persons of their community place themselves at the head of the movement. Let them meet, concert and pet.i.tion. In fact the agitation must be simultaneous throughout Europe. There is no Government which can possibly take offence at such public meetings. The result would be that you would conjure up a new element in Eastern diplomacy--an element which under such auspices as those of the wealthy and influential members of the Jewish community could not fail not only of attracting great attention and of exciting extraordinary interest, but also of producing great events.

Were the resources which you all possess steadily directed towards the regeneration of Syria and Palestine, there cannot be a doubt but that, under the blessing of the Most High, those countries would amply repay the undertaking, and that you would end by obtaining the sovereignty of at least Palestine. That the present attempt to prop up the Turkish Empire as at present const.i.tuted is a miserable failure, we who see what is going on around us must at once acknowledge. What turn events will take no one can possibly tell, but of this I am perfectly certain that these countries must be rescued from the grasp of ignorant and fanatical rulers, that the march of civilisation _must_ progress, and its various elements of commercial prosperity _must_ be developed. It is needless to observe that such will never be the case under the blundering and decrepit despotism of the Turks or the Egyptians. Syria and Palestine, in a word, must be taken under European protection and governed in the sense and according to the spirit of European administration. It must ultimately come to this. What a great advantage it would be, nay, how indispensably necessary, when at length the Eastern Question comes to be argued and debated with this new ray of light thrown around it, for the Jews to be ready and prepared to say: "Behold us here all waiting, burning to return to that land which you seek to remould and regenerate. Already we feel ourselves a people. The sentiment has gone forth amongst us and has been agitated and has become to us a second nature; that Palestine demands back again her sons. We only ask a summons from these Powers on whose counsels the fate of the East depends to enter upon the glorious task of rescuing our beloved country from the withering influence of centuries of desolation and of crowning her plains and valleys and mountain-tops once more, with all the beauty and freshness and abundance of her pristine greatness." I say it is for the Jews to be ready against such a crisis in diplomacy. I therefore would strenuously urge this subject upon your calm consideration, upon the consideration of those who, by their position and influence amongst you are most likely to take the lead in such a glorious struggle for national existence. I had once intended to have addressed the Jews here in their Synagogue upon the subject, but I have reflected that such a proceeding might have awakened the jealousy of the local Government. I have, however, prepared a rough pet.i.tion which will be signed by all the Jews here and in other parts of Syria, and which I shall then forward to you. Probably two or three months will elapse first. There are many considerations to be weighed and examined as the question develops itself--but a _beginning_ must be made--a resolution must be taken, _an agitation must be commenced_, and where the stake is "Country and Home" where is the heart that will not leap and bound to the appeal?

I am the Resident Officer at Damascus until further order.

Believe me to be, Dear Sir Moses,

Yours very faithfully,

CHAS. H. CHURCHILL.

Before closing my letter, I cannot avoid offering one or two further considerations.

Supposing that you and your colleagues should at once and earnestly interest yourselves upon this important subject of the recovery of your ancient country, it appears to me (forming my opinions upon the present att.i.tude of affairs in the Turkish Empire) that it could only be as subjects of the Porte that you could commence to regain a footing in Palestine. Your first object would be to interest the Five Great Powers in your views and to get them to advocate your view with the Sultan upon the clear understanding that the Jews, if permitted to colonise any part of Syria and Palestine, should be under the protection of the Great Powers, that they should have the internal regulation of their own affairs, that they should be exempt from military service (except on their own account as a measure of defence against the incursions of the Bedouin Arabs), and that they should only be called upon to pay a tribute to the Porte on the usual mode of taxation.