er, the East African project became a matter of lesser importance
in the eyes of the English. The English colonists in East Africa
declared their opposition to a Jewish settlement. A Zionist opposition
was organized, led by Menahem Ussishkin, who was not present at the
Uganda Congress. The Charkov Conference of Russian Zionists was
called. Herzl was charged with having violated the Basle Program. The
Charkov Conference disclaimed responsibility for all actions in the
direction of East Africa. It appointed a committee of three to
communicate their demands to Herzl. They asked that he promise that he
would not place before the Congress any territorial projects other
than those connected with Palestine or Syria, and that he would take
East Africa off the agenda. By now Herzl would have been pleased to
let the East African project disappear from the agenda; it was clear
that the English government was not greatly interested and was seeking
a way out; but the devious route of political action, once started,
could not so easily be halted; Herzl found himself chained to a
political reality.

Throughout his Zionist life, Herzl suffered from a heart ailment
which became more and more acute as he was taken up by the excitements
and activities of the Movement. He became aware of his illness soon
after he had written "The Jewish State." He had premonitions of the
fatal consequences but persisted in carrying the burden of the
Movement himself, consuming all his strength in the process. At
intervals he was forced to take rest cures. On a number of occasions
it was thought that he had reached the end of his strength. When he
was grappling with the Uganda project, York-Steiner, an intimate
friend, wrote of his appearance: "The imposing figure is now stooped,
the face sallow, the eyes--the mirrors of a fine soul--were darkened,
the mouth was drawn in pain and marked by passion."

He was almost at the brink of the grave. In May, an alarming change
for the worse occurred in the condition of his heart muscles. He was
ordered to Franzienbad for six weeks, but the rest did him no good. On
June 3, he left with his wife and several friends for Edlach in
Semmering. He knew that this was his last journey. Then there was a
slight improvement and he returned to his desk. But he rapidly grew
worse. To the faithful Hechler he said, "Give them all my greetings
and tell them that I have given my heart's blood for my people." On
July 3, pneumonia set