setting up a
stable form of government in the country. It is unnecessary here to enter
into detail, but it may be stated that the policy which had met with
universal approval in Palestine was adopted in Syria. Subject to certain
obvious limitations every man was free to come and go as he pleased; and,
with no restriction whatever, he could worship as he pleased, whether
Christian, Mussulman, or Jew. To quote one example of the goodwill that
prevailed: the head of the Greek Church in Homs offered his Cathedral to
the Army for the thanksgiving service held after the signing of the general
Armistice, and members of nearly every religious denomination were present
at a most impressive ceremony.

The Arabs took over the government of Damascus and the surrounding country,
which presumably they will retain for the future; the French, who have
large interests in Beyrout and Lebanon, will, I believe, be the paramount
influence there--though curiously enough, the one question we were
constantly asked by the people of Beyrout was whether the British were
going to take over the town; and from fifteen miles north of Acre down to
the Suez Canal the country will probably be under the protection of the
British. As this includes the desert of Northern Sinai the conquest of
which had taken two long years, it is unlikely that we shall be accused of
land-grabbing!

It is reasonably certain that Palestine will need material help for some
time, for Turkish maladministration, and the iniquitously heavy taxes
imposed upon the people, have almost killed initiative. So far as real
development is concerned, it is almost a virgin land, and although the
efforts of those responsible for the work of reconstruction are both
vigorous and successful, it will be many years before Palestine is
producing up to her full capacity. At present the grain crop of the entire
country could be brought to England in about seven ships; in fact, before
the War most of it was bought by a well-known firm of whisky distillers!

Whether the Jews as a nation will ever settle in Palestine is a question
the future alone will solve; certainly the wise policy of the British and
French governments offers them every inducement, if they really wish to
become a nation again in their own ancient land. If the prophets are to be
believed Jerusalem will one day be the capital of the world--but it will
not be in our day.

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TRA