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The Southern Israelite
The Famous Indian Poet and Philosopher Gives His Solution of the Palestine Problem
An Exclusive Interview
By JOSEPH BRAIN1N
^Rabindranath Tagore, the
great Indian poet and philosopher, who is regarded as
one of the true immortals of our time, in this inter
view gives his views about the Jewish problem in
Palestine. Tagore here, for the first time in detail,
gives Zionist leaders his advice on how the Jewish
Homeland can be achieved. Tagore s visualization of
a Palestine Commonwealth will arouse international
attention among Jews and Moslems alike.
—THE EDITOR
Jews. And that is why I feel that poli
tical and economic co-operation between
them can la* achieved. The Jews are an
old people. They have withstood perse
cution, torture, and have refused to lose
their identity. Their strength lies in
their culture and religion. Yours is a
spiritual heritage that grows stronger
with age, that cannot be assimilated or
absorbed. The Arabs also are an endura
ble people. Their religion and culture
come from the same mold as those of the
Jews. Spiritually the Arabs have bor
rowed much from the Jews. Viewed
“The Palestine problem cannot be
solved in London by any negotiations
between the British Gove mnent and the
Zionist leaders. The succes of Z onism
depends entirely upon Arab-Jewish
co-operation. This can be obtained in
Palestine only by means of a direct
understanding between the Arabs and
the Jews. If the Zionist leadership
will insist on separating Jewish politi
cal and economic interests in Palestine
from those of the Arabs ugly eruptions
will occur in the Holy Land.”
These were the concluding words of
a conversation 1 had a few days ago
with Sir Rabindranath Tagore, the In
dian poet and philosopher, who is now
visiting this country.
Tagore, whose idyllic lyric poetry won
him the Nobel Prize for literature in
191J and whose School of Philosophy
—or, rather, Wisdom of Life in India
has attracted world-wide admi ation,
received me in a private apartment in
Park Avenue. The grand old man of
India is ill. lit* hardly leaves his room,
and has had to cancel all his lectire en
gagements because of his physical con
dition.
Reclining on a couch, his picture quo
white head a spot of light in the semi-
dark room, bis large kindly eyes bet ay-
ing physical suffering, the man whom
all India worships answered my ques
tions about the Jewish Homeland in
Palestine.
"1 respect the Zionist ideal and ad
mire the selflessness of those who work
for it,” Tagore replied when I asked
whether he is a pro-Zionist. “1 have
followed as closely as 1 can the steady
and continuous progress of the trans
formation of your ideal into reality.
You have made extraordinary headway.
But now your political orientation is
leading you into a blind alley, a path
without issue. Even if England wanted
to bring about an Arab-Jewish partner
ship she could not do so. Arab-Jewish
harmony must be achieved in Palestine.”
“How can this harmony be achieved?”
the interviewer asked.
“I am not a statesman, nor do I pre
tend to know the answer to your query,”
wearily countered the poet. ‘ I do know
the Arabs, and I believe that I know the
Rabindranath Tagore
fundamentally, you and t
family—yes, one great fam Familv
quarrels are always virulem the p|,
losopher smiled—“but they c a( || 1H ,
ble. You have learned to e among
people much further from y« than the
Arabs, people foreign to you i n even-
respect. Even in America, tin land of
machine culture, you have inanaired to
be both Jews and American-. Can you
not manage to be Jews and Palestinians
at the same time?”
An almost supernatural calm came over
Tagore’s face as he leaned hack and
listened to the echo which his own
words had awakened. Hesitantly I di-
turbed his peaceful repose: “But Zion
ism, Dr. Tagore, is trying to find an
escape from this dual life of the dew.
It is intended for those who cannot or
do not want to assimilate with other
nations. If Jews have to differentiate
between Jewish nationalism and Pale-
tinism, as you suggest, then Palestine
will be merely another America. France
or Germany as far as the Jews are con
cerned.”
In the rhythmic voice that give- a
poetic flavor even to his conversation
Tagore answered: “I understand Zion
ism in the same sense as my great friend
Einstein. 1 regard Jewish nationalism
as an effort to preserve and enrich
Jewish culture and tradition. In i<>
day’s world this program requires
national home. It also implies appro
priate physical surroundings a- well a-
favorable political and economic con
ditions. I realize this. Palestine, how
ever, can provide these only it '
Jews will include the Arabs in Vci
political and economic program. Vai
spiritual and cultural programs do i
need to sacrifice anything to obtain tin-
political co-operation. 1 visualiz*
Palestine Commonwealth in which
Arabs will live their own religious litc
and the Jews will revive their resplen
dent culture both will be united a-
political and economic entity.
“I see that there is skepticism in von
eyes and you think these the iam 1
of a naive poet. You wonder
can be done. I do not doubt
ties and special gilts ot the d*
people. If you will set yom
upon convincing the Arabs th.
political and economic inte e
identical with yours, if you "
them that by your work in 1
you are building for Arabs an
alike, without regard for yom
differences, the Arabs will in
come your most loyal allies.
The interviewer humbly sm : "
that this was what the Ziom-
been doing in the past. Am
August of last year • • •
Rabindranath Tagore did m
conclude the sentence. A sbau
(Continued on pag e