Churchill, Palestine and Zionism, 1904-1922 - Douglas J. Feith

Palestine and Zionism, 1904-1922 235
doubt the fact that they are beyond all doubt the most formidable and the
most remarkable race which has ever appeared in the world." He distinguished
between the Jews who were assimilated into their countries of
residency and those who were not. Among the latter, there was a great
divide between the Jews who organize themselves in "a world-wide conspiracy
for the overthrow of civilisation" and for the promotion of Bolshevism
and those who labor constructively for a national Jewish center
in Palestine to serve as a refuge, "a symbol of Jewish unity and the temple
of Jewish glory." "The struggle which is now beginning between the
Zionist and the Bolshevik Jews," Churchill wrote, "is little less than a
struggle for the soul of the Jewish people.,,65 Typically, Churchill insisted
that Zionism be viewed from a broad perspective. The issue was not local
and administrative; rather, it was an element of world politics with transcendent
moral implications.
In July 1920, Britain replaced its military government in Palestine with
a civil administration. Sir Herbert Samuel became Palestine's first high
commissioner. Though the chief had changed, the administration's collective
frame of mind-its prevailing lack of sympathy with the government's
pro-Zionist policy-remained intact. Like many political appointees
before and since, Samuel quickly came under the influence of his professional
military and civilian subordinates. He supervised, but they led.
Within days of Samuel's arrival in Jerusalem, French forces expelled
Feisal from Damascus. 66 doubt the fact that they are beyond all doubt the most formidable and the
most remarkable race which has ever appeared in the world." He distinguished
between the Jews who were assimilated into their countries of
residency and those who were not. Among the latter, there was a great
divide between the Jews who organize themselves in "a world-wide conspiracy
for the overthrow of civilisation" and for the promotion of Bolshevism
and those who labor constructively for a national Jewish center
in Palestine to serve as a refuge, "a symbol of Jewish unity and the temple
of Jewish glory." "The struggle which is now beginning between the
Zionist and the Bolshevik Jews," Churchill wrote, "is little less than a
struggle for the soul of the Jewish people.,,65 Typically, Churchill insisted
that Zionism be viewed from a broad perspective. The issue was not local
and administrative; rather, it was an element of world politics with transcendent
moral implications.
In July 1920, Britain replaced its military government in Palestine with
a civil administration. Sir Herbert Samuel became Palestine's first high
commissioner. Though the chief had changed, the administration's collective
frame of mind-its prevailing lack of sympathy with the government's
pro-Zionist policy-remained intact. Like many political appointees
before and since, Samuel quickly came under the influence of his professional
military and civilian subordinates. He supervised, but they led.
Within days of Samuel's arrival in Jerusalem, French forces expelled
Feisal from Damascus. Britain had to acquiesce in the humiliation of
its Hashemite client. Meanwhile, Turkish nationalist forces threatened
Allied forces in Constantinople, Ireland was in revolt, and violent Egyptian
nationalists had extracted from British negotiators a pledge of independence
that "bewildered"67 Churchill, who had not been consulted.
Throughout the summer, British forces in Mesopotamia strained to suppress
a large-scale rebellion. In deference to the prime minister, Churchill
doggedly pursued his demobilization and expenditure reduction plans,
but demand for troops was rising. Mesopotamia was being reinforced
with men from India, Palestine, Constantinople, Egypt, and Europe. "We
66 Britain had to acquiesce in the humiliation of
its Hashemite client. Meanwhile, Turkish nationalist forces threatened
Allied forces in Constantinople, Ireland was in revolt, and violent Egyptian
nationalists had extracted from British negotiators a pledge of independence
that "bewildered"67 Churchill, who had not been consulted.
Throughout the summer, British forces in Mesopotamia strained to suppress
a large-scale rebellion. In deference to the prime minister, Churchill
doggedly pursued his demobilization and expenditure reduction plans,
but demand for troops was rising. Mesopotamia was being reinforced
with men from India, Palestine, Constantinople, Egypt, and Europe. "We
65 Illustrated Sunday Herald, February 8, 1920, quoted in Gilbert, Exile and Return, 127-
8. Meinertzhagen had earlier used the term "constructive Bolshevism" to describe Zionism
in contrast to the destructive variety then gaining ground in Russia; he reported that
Weizmann approved the characterization. Meinertzhagen, Middle East Diary, 14 (January
30, 1919, entry).
66 The blow that ended the Hashemite kingdom of Syria also negated Feisal's agreement
with Weizmann. See Antonius, Arab Awakening, 439 [appendix Fl.
67 Cabinet memorandum dated August 24,1920, in WSC IV C 1179.