The Herzl Movement.— It may have been his observation and experience while sojourn ing in Paris in 1895 as correspondent of the Neste Freie Presse of Vienna, that led Dr. Theodor Herzl (b. 1860; d. 1904), an Austrian playwright and feuilletonist not before identi fied with Jewish life or affairs, to write his an attempt to prove that the °Jewish question" can only be solved by the establishment of a Jewish state. At first intended only for private circulation, this pamphlet was later published broadcast (1896) in German, English, French, Hebrew and Yid dish. Assuming that anti-Semitism is uneradic able; that whatever may be true as to individual Jews here and there, the Jews as a whole are not welcomed into the social life around them; and that true assimilation is possible only by means of intermarriage—which means disappearance — Herzl proposes an organized effort to obtain a territory wherein Jews may build up a state of their own. The underlying motive being political and economic, not re ligious, one part of the globe will serve as well as another, and he at first suggested that Argen tina might be available. Later, he was brought to realize the sentimental importance of the Holy Land, and now for the first time his proposition becomes in truth Zionistic. In some of its details it was, indeed, anticipated by Benedetto Mussolino (1870), an Italian Chris tian, who had vainly journeyed to London in the attempt to interest Lord Palmerston and Lord Rothschild in his project. In both plans Turkish suzerainty was to be acknowledged and the holy places of other faiths made extra-terri torial. For the accouiplishment of its object the suggests first, a °Society of Jews" to do the preliminary scientific and politi cal work (since measurably realized in the Zionist organization, especially its °Palestine Committee") ; then a chartered °Jewish Com to the British East India or South African Company, with a capital of i50,000,000 and with headquarters in London partially realized in the °Jewish Colonial Trust"). In July 1896, Herzl was induced to present his plan in person before representative London Jews. It was received with polite coldness or active hostility—in striking con trast to the enthusiasm evoked from an assem blage of poor Jews in the east end of that city. The difference was typical and prophetic. In difference or opposition was manifested by the vast majority of prosperous Jews, not only in England but also in western and central Europe, and virulently in America.
Spread of the Movement.— The tJuden staat' nevertheless exerted an influence in the crystallization of opinion and action among Jews imbued with or susceptible to the na tionalist sentiment. More important was the change gradually wrought in the attitude of Herzl himself, who, forced far beyond his primary intention of literary propaganda into the active role of leader and organizer of a re awakened people, and brought into contact, as not before, with religious Jews of both orthodox and reform wings, began better to understand both his people and their destiny. His new thought sprang into extemporaneous and epi grammatic utterance when he declared at Basel that °the return to Judaism must precede the return to Zion .° For by this time much sup port had come from among the °C,hovevei Zion" and kindred societies, and an alternative terri tory to Palestine could not be considered. The Jewish bankers and rich Jews in general con tinued to be either indifferent or antagonistic to Zionism. Certain orthodox rabbis opposed it .as an endeavor to anticipate Providence; reform rabbis denounced it as an attempt to reverse history. Many sincere thinkers, re garding Anti-Semitism as a temporary aber ration, regretted the movement as an apparent abandonment of the position won by Jews in countries where their only distinction from fel low-citizens is in creed, not in nationality— a position to be stoutly contended for wherever it has not yet been attained.
Herzl was not, however, altogether without the help of Jews of learning and distinction, and among those who early declared in his favor were representatives of the strictest or thodoxy, of the most extreme radicalism, and of the supremest indifferentism to all religion. Sympathy also came from the Gentile world from men eminent in art, literature, statesman ship and Christian theology. A call was issued for an international convention at Munich, but so great was the opposition of the most influen tial rabbis and laymen among the Jews of Ger many that Basel in Switzerland was chosen in stead, and there, on July 29, 30 and 31, 1897, the first Zionist Congress assembled. It was com posed of 204 members, most of whom came as private individuals, though a number repre sented various organizations, especially the °Chovevei Zion" societies, which later became virtually merged into the Zionist body here constituted. This Congress issued the docu ment known as the 'Basel Program,) defining the Zionist aim in the words cited at the head of this article and proposing the following means for its attainment: (1) The promotion of the settlement of Jewish agriculturists, artisans and tradesmen in Palestine; (2) the federation of all Jews into local or general groups according to the laws of the various countries; (3) the strengthening of the Jewish feeling and cons:iousness; (4) preparatory steps for the attainment of those government grants which are necessary to the achievement of the Zionist purpose. The scheme of repre sentative organization was formulated, an executive body (Actions Comite) constituted and steps taken toward the establishment of a °Jewish national fund" and the formation of a banking corporation which should be custodian of the national fund and perform the functions which the Judenstaat' had suggested for the °Jewish Company." °The National fund," now very considerable, is derived from the sale of stamps placed upon all official Zionist com munications, and upon other correspondence by ardent Zionists; from free-will offerings, and from payments made to inscribe persons and societies in the °Golden Book." It is to be used exclusively for the purchase of land in Palestine, and although originally intended not to be touched until it had reached $1,000,000 has recently been drawn upon for such pur poses. The Zionist bank, officially known as the Jewish Colonial Trust, Limited, of London, was chartered under the laws of Great Britain, "to promote, develop, work, and carry on coloni zation schemes in the East, by preference in Palestine and Syria, or in any other part of the world.' Its authorized capital stock is #2,000,000 in ft shares, of which somewhat less than 1325,000 has been paid in, chiefly by the joint efforts of the very poor and upon an in staimedt plan. Control is lodged in 100 "founders' shares,' which must be held by mem bers of the "council of administration,' who must in turn be chosen from the "Grosses Ac tions Comite (Greater Executive Committee) of the Zionist organization. In 1902 a sub sidiary corporation, "The Anglo-Palestine Com pany* was formed and a branch opened in Jaffe. Quite recently branches have been opened. in Jerusalem and in Beirut. Through the Colonial Trust the Zionist organization hopes to obtain concessions of territory, and to promote therein agriculture, industry and commerce. Mean while it is the custodian and administrator of the Jewish National Fund and devotes its capi tal to the encouragement and development of private enterprise on the part of the sutlers in Palestine. In 1906 its statutes were so altered as to restrict its operations to Palestine and adjacent regions.