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Page 6 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